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Sarah Newman

Lawyer

Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Certificate in Industrial Relations

  • Education
  • Workplace Relations
  • Anti-Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
  • Discrimination and Human Rights
  • Employment Disputes

Sarah worked in a people and culture and industrial relations capacity for 10 years, including 4 years at an industrial organisation and over 2 years as the Head of Workplace Relations for a large independent school in Victoria.

Sarah now provides advice to a range of independent schools in relation to employment and discrimination matters, both in relation to staff and students.

Experience

  • In her role as Head of Workplace Relations, Sarah assisted Xavier College to successfully negotiate a new single enterprise agreement (Xavier College Enterprise Agreement 2023)
  • Sarah has represented employers in numerous unfair dismissal conciliation conferences
  • Sarah has also successfully opposed several extension of time applications, resulting in the Fair Work Commission dismissing the claims in Webster v Xavier College Ltd [2022] FWC 1555, Marinelli v Bell Street Pharmacy [2020] FWC 5117; and Warden v Pharmacy Excellence Marysville T/A Pharmacy Excellence [2020] FWC 4713
  • Sarah has defended employers in numerous general protections conciliation conferences, successfully setting claims for nominal amounts, whilst preventing the matters from proceeding to hearing at the Federal Court
  • Sarah has conducted end to end investigations on behalf of employers in response to bullying and harassment concerns
  • Sarah has also supported Independent Schools with their obligations regarding mandatory reporting to the Commission of Children and Young People

Leadership

  • Member, Industrial Relations Society of Victoria