Vicarious liability of schools

New minimum standards effective from 17 August 2026 introduce personal accident insurance requirements for delivery drivers and riders working through digital platforms like Uber Eats and Deliveroo. These protections address a critical gap for gig economy workers who, as independent contractors, have historically fallen outside traditional workers compensation schemes when injured on the job.

A redundancy can expose your business to legal risk, particularly where an employee disputes whether the redundancy was genuine. While employers cannot require employees to waive their minimum statutory entitlements, they may choose to offer additional benefits in exchange for greater certainty. One way of achieving this is through a deed of release.

In Part 2 of our latest episode of Inside IR, industrial relations partner Rohan Doyle and Melbourne Business School Professor Jennifer Overbeck continue their discussion on the evolving enterprise bargaining landscape...

The Albanese Government has released draft legislation that would fundamentally reshape how Australian employers use restrictive covenants and competitive agreements. The proposed Competition and Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Banning Unfair Non-Competes) Bill 2026 seeks to prohibit or strictly regulate no-poach agreements, wage-fixing arrangements, non-compete clauses, and co-worker non-solicitation terms.

The South Australian Employment Tribunal has rejected claims that after-hours TikTok and Snapchat messages sent to employees breached their right to disconnect. The ruling provides useful guidance on when out-of-hours communications may cross the line.

Victorian laws now restrict how Non-Disclosure Agreements can be used in workplace sexual harassment cases, introducing six mandatory preconditions that employers must meet before an NDA can be validly entered into. These new protections aim to address power imbalances and prevent employees from being coerced into silence, while giving workers the right to terminate NDAs after 12 months and speak to police, medical professionals, and lawyers without breaching confidentiality.

In the first substantive rulings on Australia's right to disconnect laws, the South Australian Employment Tribunal has determined that an Adelaide hairdressing salon did not breach its apprentices' rights despite sending frequent out-of-hours messages via TikTok and Snapchat. The Tribunal drew a critical distinction between unwelcome communication and actually preventing employees from disconnecting, establishing that subjective pressure without demonstrable consequences does not constitute a breach.

Queensland's new Reportable Conduct Scheme, effective July 1, 2026, establishes comprehensive obligations for organizations working with children to investigate and report allegations of abuse or neglect. Schools, childcare centers, and other entities must navigate strict reporting timelines, procedural fairness requirements, and potential penalties for non-compliance.

A Queensland District Court case examines whether a residential care facility adequately protected a worker who suffered psychiatric injury after being threatened by a young person in her care. The case explores critical questions about staffing requirements, risk management protocols, and the impact of undisclosed pre-existing conditions on compensation claims.

The essential podcast for employment lawyers, HR, industrial relations and safety professionals, exploring legal, regulatory and workplace issues shaping organisations through expert analysis and practical insights.

New minimum standards effective from 17 August 2026 introduce personal accident insurance requirements for delivery drivers and riders working through digital platforms like Uber Eats and Deliveroo. These protections address a critical gap for gig economy workers who, as independent contractors, have historically fallen outside traditional workers compensation schemes when injured on the job.

Victorian laws now restrict how Non-Disclosure Agreements can be used in workplace sexual harassment cases, introducing six mandatory preconditions that employers must meet before an NDA can be validly entered into. These new protections aim to address power imbalances and prevent employees from being coerced into silence, while giving workers the right to terminate NDAs after 12 months and speak to police, medical professionals, and lawyers without breaching confidentiality.

NSW emergency service volunteers who suffer workplace injuries resulting in permanent impairment may be entitled to lump sum compensation. Understanding the assessment thresholds, timing requirements, and common disputes in permanent impairment claims is essential for maximizing entitlements under the statutory framework.

The Full Court of the Supreme Court of Tasmania has ruled on a critical question affecting workers' compensation claims: what happens when there's a gap in medical certification exceeding 14 days? The court examined whether employers must continue paying weekly compensation when they elect to treat a new certificate as a disputed claim, balancing employer rights against worker protections under Tasmania's workers compensation legislation.

Nurses and other healthcare workers who suffer injuries while caring for patients in hospitals, aged care facilities, or other clinical settings often ask whether their employer may be legally responsible for the harm they have suffered.

The New South Wales Court of Appeal examined whether a $50,000 award for future economic loss to a minor injured in a café accident met the evidentiary requirements of the Civil Liability Act 2002. The decision clarifies the stringent standards courts must apply when assessing damages for children, particularly regarding assumptions about future earning capacity and the need for concrete evidence rather than mere possibilities.

NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers who experience traumatic incidents during their service may be entitled to workers compensation for psychological injuries including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Recent NSW reforms have changed the claims landscape, making early medical evidence and proper documentation critical for successful claims.

Australia's new statutory tort for serious invasions of privacy, which commenced in June 2025, is being tested against emerging AI-powered smart glasses technology that can record audio and video discreetly. As these devices become more sophisticated and less detectable, questions arise about whether current privacy laws adequately protect individuals from covert surveillance and data collection in both public and private settings.

When an accident occurs on public or private property in New South Wales, understanding your legal rights and taking immediate action can be crucial to any future compensation claim. This guide outlines the essential steps to protect your interests, from documenting the incident scene to preserving critical evidence that may determine whether you can successfully prove negligence and recover damages.

Injured workers in New South Wales often wonder whether they can continue receiving workers compensation benefits while returning to their job. The workers compensation scheme actively encourages safe return to work where medically appropriate, but the process involves careful management of medical certificates, suitable duties, injury management plans, and rehabilitation providers to ensure both recovery and proper benefit calculations.