In August, the 2017 Education Law Masterclass will bring together some of Australia’s top law experts together in Sydney to discuss the key legal issues facing principals.
The one day conference – to be held at Sydney’s Dockside Darling Harbour on Wednesday 30 August – will cover issues such as disability discrimination, litigation, online bullying and how to deal with difficult parents.
One of the speakers at the event will be Jacquie Seemann, partner at Thompson Geer law firm. At the conference, she will speak about another complex issue – how schools should navigate the sometimes complex issue of staff relationships.
Seemann told The Educator that because it’s so easy for staff and students to forge relationships outside of school hours, schools should consider ways to navigate the potential issues that may arise from them.
“How should you manage these relationships, set unmistakeable and enforceable boundaries with staff, and clearly identify misconduct?”
Seemann says the biggest challenges that school leaders face when dealing with this area are poor communication about expectations, and lack of training for all staff in how to have difficult conversations,” she said.
“The topic of staff relationships is important for principals and other school leaders because it is central to the purpose of the school.”
Seemann added that events like the Education Law Masterclass are “an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from others' experiences”.
In terms of advice to school leaders about managing staff relationships, Seemann said talking more frequently to staff should be encouraged.
Click here to view the full conference schedule.
Super Saver discounts apply to online registrations made before Friday 30 June; or for the best rate Team Passes are available for group bookings of four or more delegates.