Conferences

acirrt is currently developing our conference program for 2004. If you have any suggestions please contact us at or call 02 9351-5626. If you would like to receive information on forthcoming events simply forward your contact details accordingly.

Previous acirrt conferences 2003

The New Challenges at Work:
how will management and government respond?

view brochure>>

Times: 8:30am - 12:30pm

Venues & Dates:
Brisbane 16 September 2003 Mercure Hotel
Sydney 17 September 2003 Novotel Darling Harbour
Melbourne 18 September 2003 Novotel Melbourne on Collins

Cost: $349 (inc GST & the new acirrt book Fragmented Futures)

acirrt, University of Sydney is hosting morning conferences in Brisbane, Sydney & Melbourne titled New Challenges at Work – How Will Management and Government Respond? The purpose of these events is to initiate a dialogue on the new challenges facing employers and employees with a particular interest in how they might effectively respond to issues such as:

• changing employee aspirations
• increasing workloads
• managing part-time workers
• emerging occupational profiles
• skills development in the workplace
• work/life balance
• superannuation

While the traditional issues of wages and conditions of work continue to be on the agenda for many organisations, managers are increasingly facing a range of new employee relations issues that require a more strategic approach. acirrt’s recently released book, Fragmented Futures (free to delegates) has examined many of these issues in considerable detail.

Each briefing will include:
• a presentation by acirrt's Dr John Buchanan outlining the major changes that have occurred in Australian working arrangements and conditions with an emphasis on the critical issues now confronting all those involved in managing work
• presentations from leading representatives from key employer associations, government agencies and unions focussing on employer responses, new policies imperatives and the claims that will be coming from Australias most powerful employee representatives
• an opportunity to raise questions and issues with the presenters.

These intensive, half-day briefings are designed for senior HR and IR managers, policy strategists and all those concerned with future challenges.

Confirmed Speakers:

Brisbane, Tuesday 16th September 2003

Mr Joe Barnwall, Queensland Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Dr John Buchanan, Deputy Director (Research), acirrt University of Sydney
The Hon. Matt (M.J.) Foley, Queensland Minister for Employment, Training & Youth and Minister for the Arts
Ms Grace Grace, General Secretary, Queensland Council of Unions
Mr Phil Minns, Divisional Manager Human Resources & Strategic Management Brisbane City Council

Sydney, Wednesday 17th September 2003

Dr John Buchanan, Deputy Director (Research), acirrt University of Sydney
The Hon. J Della Bosca, NSW Minister for Commerce, Minister for Industrial Relations, Special Minister of State, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier on Public Sector Management, and Minister Assisting the Premier for the Central Coast
Mr John Robertson, Secretary, NSW Labor Council
Ingmar Taylor, Barrister, HB Higgins Chambers
Mr Peter Nolan, Director - Workplace Relations, Australian Industry Group

Melbourne, Thursday 18th September 2003

Mr Peter Anderson, Director Workplace Policy, Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Dr John Buchanan, Deputy Director (Research), acirrt University of Sydney
Dr Breen Creighton, Partner, Corrs Chambers Westgarth (Workplace Relations)
Mr Scott Gartrell, Director Corporate & Industrial Affairs, Baulderstone Hornibrook
Mr Leigh Hubbard, Secretary, Victorian Trades Hall Council

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The Future of Work:
trends and challenges in the contemporary workplace

Date: Thursday 12 June 2003
Time: 8.30am - 5.00pm
Venue: Blaxland Ballroom, Merchant Court Hotel, Sydney
Cost: $695 per delegate (inc GST)

This significant national conference will examine the changing nature of employment and employers, shifts in the labour market and the recasting of key institutions. What is the future of work?

This conference aims to address three questions:
- how is work changing in contemporary Australia?
- why are these changes occurring?
- what are the key challenges for employees, employers, unions, policy makers,   governments?

Over the course of two decades the Australian economy has been opened to the world, most domestic markets have been deregulated and the industrial relations system has been decentralised. These developments have had an impact on every facet of Australian life. Nowhere have these impacts been more profound than in the workplace.

How important are issues like: hours of work, increasing casualisation, wage inequality, the balance between work and family, staffing levels and workloads? Persistent levels of unemployment, together with skill shortages and new occupational health and safety issues combine to suggest flaws in the market. Can they be overcome? What are the aspirations of Australian workers? Can they be achieved?

Persistent levels of unemployment, together with skill shortages and new occupational health issues combine to suggest flaws in market-based solutios. Can they be overcome? What are the aspirations of Australian workers? Can they be met?

This conference brings together some of Australia's leading commentators from business, unions, academia, the community sector and the media to begin this critical debate.

Program

Opening remarks

Dr John Buchanan, Deputy Director - Research
acirrt, University of Sydney

How do Australians feel about their future?
This session brings together leading pollsters and commentators who will report on Australian attitudes to work. What’s important - money, security, fairness, trust? The speakers will also address how different groups see the role of government and other institutions in Australia.

Mr Paul Kelly, Editor-at-Large
The Australian
Mr Sol Lebovic, Managing Director
Newspoll
Ms Elizabeth Lukin, Director
Essential Media Communication

What are the changes to be addressed?
A panel of Australia’s leading demographers, economists and sociologists identify the shifting patterns of work in our society and why these provide major challenges for the future.

Professor Bob Gregory, Research School of Social Sciences
Australian National University
Professor Peter McDonald, Demography & Sociology Program
Australian National University
Associate Professor Barbara Pocock, Centre for Labour Research
Adelaide University
Professor Michael Pusey, School of Sociology
University of New South Wales

Challenges for business and unions
Business and union leaders will outline what they see as the challenges for their organisations in the ‘new world of work’. How will businesses and unions adapt to change?

Ms Helen Creed, President
Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union
Mr Geoff Dixon, Chief Executive Officer
Qantas Airways Limited
Ms Ged Cowin, Assistant Federal Secretary
Australian Nursing Federation
Mr Geoff Polites, Chief Executive Officer
Ford Australia

What are the options for the future
Distinguished speakers from employer associations and the union movement will discuss their vision for the future and the role of government in regulating aspects of work and non-work. Do the challenges require new institutions and forms of intervention?

Mr Greg Combet, Secretary
Australian Council of Trade Unions
Ms Heather Ridout, Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Australian Industry Group

Presented by
acirrt, University of Sydney
in conjunction with
Australian Council of Trade Unions
and The Australian

Annual Labour Law Conference
Rethinking the Law of Work:
Perspectives on the Future Shape of Employment Regulation

Presented by:
acirrt, University of Sydney
in association with
Continuing Legal Education, Faculty of Law, University of Sydney

Date: Friday 4 April 2003, 9.00am - 1.00pm
Venue: Merchant Court Hotel, 68 Market Street, Sydney
Cost: $495.00 per person (inc GST)

Program
08:30am Registration

09.00am Keynote Address
Rethinking law of work - social inclusion, competitiveness and citizenship
Professor Hugh Collins, English Law, London School of Economics

09:45am Keynote Address
The continuing role of trade unions in labour law
Professor Keith Ewing, Public Law, Kings College London

10:30am Break

11.00am Arguing the Trade Practices Act in employment matters
Ms Joellen Riley, Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Sydney

11.30am The future of co-existing federal and state regulation of labour law
Professor Ron McCallum, Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Sydney

12.00pm Human resources management and individualisation in Australian labour law
Professor Richard Mitchell, Law School, University of Melbourne

12:30 panel discussion by presenters
Emerging issues in labour law

1.00pm Close

Note: attendance contributes a maximum 3.5 MCLE units