HR Update 2024

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Presenters

Dr Dominic Aouad - Moderator

Dominic is the President and Chair of the Australian Dental Association NSW Branch, driving forward oral health initiatives and elevating professional standards. Dominic has a Master of Business Administration and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Along with being a Partner at his practice in Sydney,  Dominic also holds roles as a Medicolegal expert, a Board member of Filling the Gap charity, and an industry expert for the Industry Collaboration Reference Group for TAFE NSW.

Mr Wes O'Donnell - Head of Workplace Relations, HR Assured

Wes O’Donnell is the Head of Workplace Relations at Citation Group and oversees the delivery of all workplace relations and HR services to multiple industry associations and large corporates including the Australian Dental Association and its members. Wes has over 20 years of extensive experience in workplace relations and employment law.


Mr Adrian Turner - General Counsel & Head of WHS, Citation Group

Adrian Turner is the Head of Citation Safety as well as Group General Counsel at Citation Group.  In his role leading Citation Safety, Adrian oversees the commercial growth and service delivery function of the division. As Group General Counsel, Adrian has broad involvement in the commercial development, governance and risk portfolios across Citation’s brands, as well as managing M&A activity in Australia and New Zealand.

Ms Yvette Gasic - Head of Migration, Citation Group

Yvette Gasic is the Head of Migration at Citation Group. Based in Sydney, Yvette is an immigration lawyer with over 20 years of experience and holds a Bachelor of Economics/LLB (Hons) and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice Management. She’s worked on all sides of immigration, assisting organisations across several industries, including health, engineering, hospitality, and logistics.

Synopsis

Legislative reforms in late 2024 have significantly reshaped workforce engagement models and it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep pace with the change and implement meaningful, yet efficient, workplace models in a busy practice.  These changes include right to disconnect regulations, changes to casual employment and independent contractor regulations. Coupled with this, there is a growing focus on psychosocial hazards in the workplace which requires practices to implement strategies to protect workers mental health and wellbeing. Understanding and managing these risks is now a legal responsibility, with significant implications for practice owners and managers.  

Additionally, the next 12 months in Australian immigration will see the most significant changes in over 50 years. In December 2023, the Australian Government declared the system “broken” and in need of an overhaul. The most notable change is the replacement of the subclass 482 visa program with the Skills in Demand Visa, with occupation lists managed by Jobs and Skills Australia.

This change to migration pathways is particularly crucial for dental practices in regional areas, where recruiting dentists has been an ongoing struggle. The new migration strategy aims to provide a more certain pathway to permanent residence, addressing concerns over a “permanently temporary” labour force.

This event will explore:

  • Psychosocial Hazards: Gain insight into the new regulations around managing psychosocial risks in the workplace, with specific focus ensuring workers mental health and wellbeing in a dental practice are effectively protected.

  • Right to Disconnect: Learn about the newly introduced laws granting employees the right to disconnect, as well as updates to the Modern Awards.

  • Casual Employment and Conversion: Get up to speed on the latest rules surrounding casual employment and conversion, and understand the implications for your practice’s workforce.
  • Independent Contractor Laws: Ensure compliance with the new regulations governing independent contractors, with guidance on updating agreements and practices.

  • Immigration Changes for Dentists: Understand how the new Skills in Demand Visa will impact recruitment efforts in the dental profession, particularly in regional areas.

Resources