Program

Keynote speaker
Major General Gerard Fogarty AM, Head of People Capability, Department of Defence

Leading in times of crisis
There is a big difference between simply surviving a crisis and leading through one. In today’s ever-changing environment the call for creating adaptable leaders has never been more critical. This session will provide insight and strategies for effective crisis leadership, management and recovery.

• Judith Hackitt CBE, Chair of the Health and Safety Commission, United Kingdom
• Paul Baulch, Occupational Health and Safety consultant

Concurrent keynote presentation: Judith Hackitt, CBE, Chair of the Health and Safety Commossion, United Kingdom
As a key driver of successful health and safety legislation in the UK, Judith shares her philosophy in discussion with Paul O’Connor, Chief Executive Officer of Comcare. She describes employers who don’t get the health and safety message as ‘laggards’ who often only respond to severe penalties to do the right thing in the workplace.

Occupational Health and Safety specialist, Paul Baulch, will share his experiences from an Australian perspective.
 

• Lisa Paul AO, PSM, Secretary, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
• Chris Jenkins, Chief Executive Officer, Thales Australia
• Wayne Dunne, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Air Express
• Ahmed Fahour, Chief Executive Officer, Australia Post
  Facilitated by The Hon Lindsay Tanner, former Federal Finance Minister and former personal injuries lawyer

The panel will set the tone from the top and examine strategies of putting workplace safety and injury management of workers on the radar for senior leaders. The discussion will focus on the importance of leadership in inspiring safety outcomes throughout their organisations. 

• Barry Sherriff, Partner, Norton Rose Australia
• Lindsay Kranz, Director General Occupational, Health & Safety, Department of Defence
• Jacqueline Baldwin, Harmonisation Transition Project, Australian Taxation Office
  
  Panel members will share practical examples of how their organisation is getting ready for the new Work Health and Safety laws commencing in January 2012. The panel will discuss organisational requirements and what opportunities and challenges the new laws present

Alcohol in the workplace
Alcohol is the most widely used recreational drug in Australia and alcohol-related problems can be present in almost every workplace. Alcohol can affect relationships, safety and productivity in the workplace. Excessive alcohol use can affect the general health and wellbeing of workers and impact their family, friends and the wider community. This session will provide strategies that employers can adopt to minimise the issues and risks around alcohol and the workplace.

• Dr Peter Cotton, National Director of Psychology Services, Medibank Health Solutions
• Professor Mark Creamer, Professorial Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne
• Associate Professor Eoin Killackey, Director of Psychosocial Research and Clinical Psychologist, Orygen Youth Health Research Centre
• Dr Peter Butterworth, Senior Research Fellow, ANU Centre for Mental Health Research
• Dr Brenda Tait, Mental Health Advisory Committee, ACT division of General Practice
• David Morton, Director General Mental Health, Psychology and Rehabilitation in Joint Health Command, Australian Defence Force
• Dr Susan Long, Organisational Consultant and Adjunct Professor, RMIT University
  

Members of Comcare's Centre of Excellence in Mental Health and Wellbeing at Work Advisory Group will explore how employers can create a high quality work environment that strives for performance excellence and innovation through its people. The Advisory Group was established to provide strategic and practical advice to inform Comcare's consideration of strategies to improve mental health at work.

Facilitated by Natasha Mitchell 
 

• Julie Sharples, Rehabilitation Case Manager, FaHCSIA
• Jacinta Macaulay, National Injury Manager/Senior Welfare Officer, Border Express
• Joanna Biris, National Account Manager, Konekt
  Facilitated by Lesley Morrison, General Manager, Recovery and Support, Comcare
  
  The panel will share their experience of the challenges, barriers and opportunities faced when assisting people who have suffered a workplace injury. The session will showcase successful cases and strategies for improvement to foster a service delivery mindset as well inspire participants to better manage and care for their greatest asset—their people.

Aligning action with aims: Optimising the benefits of workplace wellness
What drives the adoption and successful delivery of workplace wellness programs? What are the key elements in delivering a ROI for employers and better health for employees? Medibank Health Solutions has aggregated and analysed the experiences of large public and private sector organisations and thought leadership stakeholders to crystallise the current position on workplace wellness barriers and benefits.

• Tracey Slatter, Head of Claims, Transport Accident Commission
• Denise Cosgrove, General Manager Claims Management, Accident Compensation Corporation
  
  Recovery, support and care for people
  The Transport Accident Commission Victoria and Accident Compensation Corporation New Zealand will showcase positive approaches to individualised claims and injury management. This session will provide case managers with practical information and strategies to go above and beyond in their role, and inspire participants to think beyond the process to foster a positive service delivery mindset.