A message from our host
I am delighted to invite you to Cooper Grace Ward's Annual Workplace Law Masterclass, to be held on 18 August 2026 at Sofitel Brisbane Central and broadcast live.
Our full-day program is specifically designed for leaders and professionals responsible for people, legal, and operational risk, providing the latest updates and practical tips for you to take back to your workplace.
Annie Smeaton
Partner
Workplace Relations and Safety
Registration options
About the masterclass
The Annual Workplace Law Masterclass is a comprehensive full-day event featuring expert insights from our firm’s leading legal professionals.
The event will address the latest legal changes and challenges in the workplace covering a range of hot topics.
Key employment topics for the day include:
- key changes to workplace laws in 2026, including payday superannuation; junior award rates, workplace gender equality agency reporting; parental leave; underpayment of wages; and non-compete clauses and other restraints
- psychosocial hazard management
- mastering performance management
- recent Queensland common law claims for primary mental injuries
- privacy reform update and AI adoption
- contractors, casuals and compliance
- employee termination and redundancy.
The day concludes with an open panel Q&A where you can ask questions of our expert presenters, followed by networking over drinks and refreshments.
Tuesday 5 August
8.00 am - 8.30 am | Registration
Speaker: Annie Smeaton, Partner
In this opening session, Annie Smeaton delivers the high-level legal update that every employer needs. She will cover key changes and trends for 2026 and beyond, including payday superannuation, junior award rates, gender equality reporting, increased government paid parental leave, underpayment of wages and non-compete clauses.
With a sharp focus on legal risk, policy updates and operational implications, this session provides the essential legal context for everything that follows. You will walk away with a clear picture of where Australian workplace law is headed and what practical steps your business should be taking now.
Speaker: Gemma Sharp, Special Counsel
Psychosocial hazards in the workplace – including stress, workplace violence, harassment and excessive workload – continue to pose significant risks to employee wellbeing, productivity and overall workplace safety. Three years after Queensland introduced its Code of Practice for managing these hazards, it is critical for senior leaders to revisit and enhance their organisation’s approach to identifying, assessing and controlling psychosocial risks. This session will examine case studies that highlight the ongoing legal and operational consequences of inadequate management, providing a clear understanding of current compliance requirements and evolving best practice frameworks.
Designed specifically for HR executives, WHS leaders and senior managers, this session will equip you with updated practical strategies to strengthen your organisation’s psychological health and safety systems. You will gain essential insights into your legal obligations under Queensland’s workplace health and safety legislation, along with effective risk management techniques to foster a culture of psychological safety. You will leave with actionable takeaways to safeguard your workforce and strengthen your business resilience.
10.00 am - 10.30 am | Morning tea
Speaker: Aiyana O’Meara, Senior Associate
Managing performance can be a difficult but critical exercise in ensuring a productive workforce. Whether you’re seeking to refine existing performance management processes or build new frameworks, this session provides essential insights to help you lead with confidence and safeguard your organisation’s interests.
In this session, Aiyana O’Meara will guide you through the legal frameworks governing performance management, helping your organisation stay compliant while fostering a culture of accountability. Learn best practice approaches that not only enhance employee performance but also support fair and transparent processes to protect your business. Discover practical strategies to manage underperformance lawfully, covering the full range of available options and how to minimise legal risks while fostering a motivated and productive workforce.
Speaker: Kim Villis, Senior Associate
Workers’ compensation claims for what are known as ‘primary mental’ injuries can be challenging for employers to manage, both under statutory law and common law. These claims generally require careful consideration of evidence gathered over time, including oral testimony from multiple witnesses. Such evidence is often coloured by perception and time.
In this discussion, we will review decisions from the Queensland District and Supreme Courts between 2024 and 2026 to identify any new trends in judicial consideration of ‘primary mental injury’ common law claims.
12.00 pm - 12.45 pm | Lunch
Speaker: Phil Vickery, Partner
This session explores key workplace issues to consider amid the rapid changes brought about by technology and AI. Ongoing reforms to privacy law – and increasing scrutiny of artificial intelligence use in the workplace – mean now is the time to understand your legal exposure. Phil will provide an update on reforms to Australian privacy law and examine the new statutory tort for invasion of privacy, highlighting the implications for HR and business leaders. He will also unpack various AI risks and discuss the National AI Centre’s guidance on best practices for responsible AI adoption.
Speaker: Tom Walrut, Special Counsel
Think engaging workers as contractors or casual employees will exempt you from superannuation, PAYG and payroll tax obligations? Think again.
As both the ATO and state revenue authorities ramp up compliance activities in these areas, more employers are facing unexpected tax liabilities because of how they classify and engage workers.
In this session, we will unpack the tax risks associated with engaging workers as contractors or casuals, highlight common superannuation pitfalls (including how to calculate ordinary time earnings) and explore the PAYG and superannuation implications of worker misclassification. We will also cover enforcement actions against employers who fail to classify their workers correctly for tax purposes.
A critical takeaway: directors can be held personally liable if a company fails to pay PAYGW and superannuation guarantee charges, with the ATO actively issuing director penalty notices.
2.15 pm - 2.30 pm | Afternoon tea
Speaker: Isabella Clements, Associate
When an employee’s role is no longer required due to operational changes, employers must follow specific steps to ensure a redundancy is lawful.
In this session, Isabella Clements will unpack the key legal principles surrounding genuine redundancy, outline obligations around redeployment, explain how to calculate redundancy pay entitlements and share practical tips for minimising risk.
By examining recent decisions, you will gain clarity on how to properly consult employees about proposed redundancies and how to effectively assess workforce composition to satisfy redeployment requirements.
All speakers
Wrap up the day with direct access to our expert panel of speakers. This interactive session gives you the chance to ask questions, clarify insights and explore practical applications of the day’s key themes. Whether you’re facing legal grey areas, policy dilemmas or leadership challenges, bring your questions and benefit from the collective expertise on stage. No hypotheticals are off limits.
4.00 pm - 5.00 pm | Networking and drinks
Who is the masterclass for?
The Annual Workplace Law Masterclass is tailored to suit the needs of:
- HR Managers, People & Culture Leaders and Business Partners
- CEOs, COOs, General Managers and Operational Leaders
- In-house Counsel and Legal Managers
- WHS Professionals and Return-to-Work Coordinators
- Finance, Payroll and Compliance Managers
- Business Owners and Directors managing legal or HR risk.
What can you expect to learn?
Guests who participate in the masterclass can expect to:
- gain expert insights into the latest changes in Australian workplace law and compliance
- build your confidence to manage complex people issues with clarity and consistency
- learn how to reduce legal and reputational risk through better workplace practices
- strengthen your organisation’s approach to culture, conduct and employee wellbeing
- walk away with practical tools, checklists and strategies to apply in your workplace
- connect with legal experts and peers to share ideas, challenges and solutions.
Registration options
We strongly encourage attendees to join us in person to take full advantage of the event experience — including face-to-face access to our presenters, deeper engagement with the sessions, and valuable networking over drinks to close out the day. However, we understand that not everyone can make it on the day, so we’re pleased to offer a live virtual attendance option. Virtual attendees will receive an attendee pack and full access to the sessions in real time, ensuring an engaging and informative experience from wherever you are.
If you’ve already bought a ticket to attend in-person but would rather attend virtually, please email [email protected] and we’ll convert the ticket for you.
*** Group bookings of five to ten registrations receive 5% discount. Ten registrants and above receive 10% discount. Contact [email protected] for information on our group registration options.
In-person
Sofitel Brisbane-
In-person Q&A sessions providing direct interaction
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Access networking opportunities with your peers and our speakers
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Event resources
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Catering and coffee cart provided
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Immersive atmosphere enhancing focus and learning
Virtual
Online-
Virtual attendance via Zoom Webinar
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Q&A and chat
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Event resources
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Attendee pack/ goodie box
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Access to networking opportunities
Keeping up with changing legislation is challenging, but CGW always provides clear, concise updates. This course is one of the easiest ways for us to stay informed.
Damien Colbert – Vaxxas
The experts clearly explain the legislative changes—what has happened, what’s coming, and how to navigate the impact. Their guidance is invaluable in these rapidly changing times.
Deb Pickersgill – Fire & Safety Systems
