Biography

Joanne acts for Commonwealth Government departments and agencies and private clients across a wide range of employment, industrial relations and workplace relations matters. She brings extensive in-house Commonwealth Government and private practice experience that informs her practical understanding of government processes and requirements.

Joanne advises on unfair dismissal and general protections matters in the Fair Work Commission, discrimination, employee misconduct, injury and employee disputes. She conducts Code of Conduct investigations and investigations under the Public Interest Disclosure Act, advises in relation to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, manages employees with long-term illness or injury, assists agencies responding to Comcare investigations, and appears in the Fair Work Commission and the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Joanne has approximately 20 years of experience in Commonwealth employment law. Her practice spans the full scope of Commonwealth public sector employment, from day-to-day HR advice through to complex misconduct investigations, enterprise agreement disputes and sensitive integrity matters. She also provides training to executives and Boards on employment and workplace issues.

Joanne’s in-house Commonwealth Government experience is a distinctive asset. She understands the legislative and policy environment in which Commonwealth agencies operate, including the Public Service Act, work health and safety frameworks, and the accountability obligations specific to APS entities. This background enables her to provide advice that is grounded in practical government reality rather than generic employment law principles.

Credentials

Academic qualifications:

• Bachelor of Laws (University of Canberra)
• Bachelor of Applied Science (Sports Media) (University of Canberra)
• Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (Australian National University)

Memberships:

• ACT Law Society

Joanne's experience

Commonwealth Agencies — Employment legislation advice

Advises Commonwealth Agencies on the application of public sector employment legislation including the proper interpretation of the Public Service Act and subordinate legislation.

Work health and safety

Provides work health and safety advice and training across Commonwealth and non-APS entities and assists agencies in responding to Comcare investigations.

Employee disputes — Fair Work and AHRC

Appears in the Fair Work Commission and the Australian Human Rights Commission in matters including unfair dismissals, general protections, discrimination and enterprise agreement interpretation disputes.

Employee misconduct — Code of Conduct investigations

Conducts Code of Conduct investigations and advises on breach findings and sanction decisions.

Public interest disclosure investigations

Conducts investigations under the Public Interest Disclosure Act.