Amanda Watt

|Partner

In the course of more than 20 years in practice, Amanda has advised numerous government departments and agencies in relation to administrative and public law. She acts in professional discipline hearings conducted by Victorian government agencies and advises and represents various health registration boards.

Amanda also advises on freedom of information and privacy issues, including defending reviews before the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court. She is a former Chair of the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Administrative Law and has advised on legislative changes to streamline public sector discipline procedures.

Amanda specialises in the HR implications of major workplace restructures. She advises in relation to complex transactions involving outsourcing projects, acquisitions, downsizing of businesses and mergers and is valued for her expertise in successfully implementing strategies for organisational change and workplace flexibility.

Amanda has particular expertise in education law and has acted for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development of Victoria for over 20 years. She has advised the Department on enterprise agreements for teachers and non-teaching staff, workload issues, selection procedures, salary adjustments, unfair dismissal claims, freedom of association claims and in relation to many complex discrimination claims. Amanda was involved in the Department’s review of disciplinary processes for teachers and has drafted legislative changes. She has advised on appeals to the Disciplinary Appeals Board and has represented the DEECD in various judicial review proceedings.

Amanda advises private and public sector clients on the full spectrum of employment related matters including the preparation and termination of employee and executive contracts; the employment implications of workplace restructures; return to work issues; discrimination; interpretation of awards; enterprise agreements; disciplinary issues; adverse action claims; dismissals and the management of ill and injured workers.

She conducts investigations and advises boards on sensitive employment issues and litigates in breach of contract claims, unfair dismissals, anti-discrimination matters, breach of award proceedings and responses to adverse action and general protections proceedings.

Amanda has extensive experience in anti-discrimination law and advises in relation to the review and development of anti-discrimination and harassment policies. She represents clients at all stages of discrimination proceedings in the Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal, the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Federal Court and the Federal Magistrates' Court. She represents government departments in high profile and complex discrimination claims, particularly in relation to students with disabilities.

Amanda advises Federal and State government departments and agencies on the negotiation and content of enterprises agreements and the review of disciplinary procedures. She has defended public sector clients in discrimination proceedings and advises in relation to freedom of information and privacy issues. Amanda has an in depth knowledge of public sector legislation and policy and has advised on statutory interpretation and the preparation of bills and regulations.

Amanda’s industrial relations expertise includes development of enterprise bargaining strategies and negotiation of enterprise bargaining agreements, responses to industrial action and industrial disputes, as well as advising on adverse action claims. Amanda has particular skills in relation to workplace restructuring issues, including the implementation of practical and commercially focussed strategies for organisational change and workplace flexibility.