Experience
Claudia is an employment lawyer based in our Newcastle Office.
Her work spans drafting and reviewing employment contracts and policies, interpreting modern awards and enterprise agreements, guiding businesses through redundancy and restructure processes, assisting employers with managing underperforming, misbehaving or ill or injured employees, and with navigating disciplinary matters (including termination of employment).
Claudia regularly assists employers in defending and resolving employee unfair dismissal and general protections claims. She also has experience assisting employers with proceedings before the Federal Court of Australia and with matters before Anti Discrimination NSW.
Childcare
Claudia has particular experience in the childcare sector, including assisting and advising providers during the introduction of Australia’s first multi-employer agreement (MEA) in the childcare industry. Claudia has assisted employers with “roping in” to the MEA so that employers and employees can access the terms of that agreement, and she continues to support childcare providers with ongoing compliance, award coverage questions, entitlements, classifications and day to day operational queries.
Supported Employment
Claudia was heavily involved in the review of the Supported Employment Services Award, undertaken as part of the 4 yearly review of modern awards before the Fair Work Commission. She advises employers in the supported employment sector, providing guidance on award coverage, employee entitlements, the grading process and navigating the unique workplace issues that arise in that environment.
Training
Claudia often delivers practical training for managers and team leaders on managing staff lawfully and confidently across the employment lifecycle. Her training equips leaders with clear legal boundaries and practical tools to minimise risk in day to day people management.
Claudia holds a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Human Resource Management and a Bachelor of Laws with a Diploma of Legal Practice (LLB) (Honours). Claudia was admitted as a solicitor to practice in the New South Wales Supreme Court.