2026 Schools Legal Agenda

Date:      Thursday, 26th February 2026
Time:      8.00am – 3.00pm (8:00am arrival for 8:30am start)
Venue:    Leonda by the Yarra, 2 Wallen Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122
Cost:      Complimentary – by invitation only

Morning tea and lunch provided.
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Event Program

Designed to empower Principals and school leadership teams, our agenda will cover the following emerging challenges and key legal considerations including:

8:00am – Arrival/Registration

8:30am – Welcome

Tessa van Duyn, CEO & Practice Leader

8:35am – From Appointment to Impact: Effective Board Onboarding

Essential strategies to ensure new board members are effectively inducted, aligned with governance expectations, and ready to contribute to school leadership from day one.
Rebecca Lambert-Smith, Practice Leader
Yoni Ungar, Senior Lawyer

9:20am – Getting Wage Compliance Right: Lessons from the Front Line

Practical insights from recent compliance issues and enforcement activity, highlighting common risks and what schools can do to strengthen payroll and wage compliance.
Skye Rose, Practice Leader

10:00am – Turning Risk Awareness into Child Safety Action

Key takeaways from recent reforms and regulatory developments to support schools in strengthening child safety frameworks and managing emerging risks effectively.
Cecelia Irvine-So, Practice Leader
Tal Shmerling, Special Counsel

10:30am – Family Law Snapshot: The Top 3 Issues Affecting Schools

A short, practical session highlighting the Family Law issues most commonly affecting schools, including authority, obligations for payment and how the school can help keep a student safe.
Micheil Paton, Associate

10:40am – Morning tea

11:00am – PANEL | Paying for Progress: Financing School Building Projects

Practical insights into budgeting, funding strategies and cost controls to help schools keep building projects on track and financially sustainable.
Hugh Watson, Practice Leader (Moores)
Peter Kachrimanis, Director (NAB)
Gavin Prendergast, Director (Gallagher Jeffs)

11:45am – When the Assessment Arrives: Lessons from School Land Tax

Key lessons from recent school land tax assessments, highlighting common issues, risk areas and practical steps schools can take to manage exposure and compliance.
Andrew Boer, Practice Leader

12:15pm – From Playground to Courtroom: Bullying, School Liability and Lessons from the Rapid Review

Claims, trends and legal lessons arising from bullying-related incidents, injuries and outcomes, with practical guidance for reducing risk and strengthening school responses.
Jessica Latimer, Practice Leader
Skye Rose, Practice Leader

1:00pm – Lunch

1:45pm – The Human Risk Equation: Managing Misconduct, Performance and Mental Health

Guidance on navigating the complex intersection of performance management, misconduct and mental health, helping schools manage psychosocial risk while meeting workplace and legal obligations.
Skye Rose, Practice Leader
Alexandra Gronow, Special Counsel

2:30pm – What to Watch in 2026: A Legal Outlook for Schools

A forward-looking briefing on the legal risks and regulatory developments that school leaders should have on their radar in the year ahead.
Cecelia Irvine-So, Practice Leader

2:55pm – Closing remarks

3:00pm – Finish