VTHC HSR Conference 2016

It's here! "Nothing about us without us"

The VTHC is once again holding its annual conference for elected HSRs (and deputies) on Tuesday October 25.

The theme of this year's conference is "Nothing about us without us": Your Right to Consultation under the OHS Act and HSRs will have the opportunity to hear from other HSRs and work through workplace issues.

The VTHC has has applied for and is awaiting approval from WorkSafe Victoria under s69 of the OHS Act. This will mean that, as long as HSRs give their employer at least 14 days' notice, they must be allowed to attend on paid leave.

What does this mean in terms of payment?

This means the employer must pay the HSR his or her normal wage for attending the Conference. If the conference is on a day the HSR would not normally be at work (for example an RDO), then the HSR and the employer must work out an alternative arrangement - either give the HSR another RDO at another time, or pay the HSR overtime, or whatever.

Can deputy HSRs attend?

Yes, deputies are welcome to attend. However, there is no obligation under the Act for deputy HSRs to be released to attend, nor to be paid for attending. If deputies wish to attend, they need to raise this with their employers straight away.

How do I register?

This year, the VTHC is doing ALL the registrations - Register Here.

You will receive a confirmation email and when the VTHC receives the s69 approval from WorkSafe, we will email that to you as well, so that you can take it to your employer. If you have any difficulties with registration, send us an email.

Where is it being held?

There are two locations: the main conference in Melbourne is once again being held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. However this year, we will also be running it in Bendigo on the same day at the Auditorium, La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre (VAC) 121 View Street Bendigo Victoria 3550.

"Nothing about us without us": Your Right to Consultation under the OHS Act

PROGRAM

MC Melbourne: Wil Stracke, Industrial/Campaigns Officer VTHC

Facilitator Bendigo: Deidre Chance

Session	Time	Topic	Speaker
1: Welcome	9am	Welcome to country	Aboriginal Elder
	9:10am	HSRs, Unions and OHS.	Luke Hilakari VTHC Secretary
	9:20am	The importance of HSRs and Government Commitments	Minister Robin Scott
	9:30am	WorkSafe – report card, program for 2016/17, commitment to HSRs	Clare Amies, Chief Executive WorkSafe.
	9:40am	2015 HSR of the Year	Sean Mathews 2015 HSR of the Year
	9:50	Questions from the floor (30min)
Morning Tea Break 20min.
2. Keynote Speech	10:40-11:40am	HSRs, Consultation and Issue Resolution.	Vasalia Govender La Trobe Masters Student Dr Paul Sutton VTHC Lead OHS Organiser.
2. Keynote Speech	11:40-12:00	Questions from the floor (20 min)
3. HSR Panel Session	12:00pm	Welcome from the chair Framework Question: As an HSR, what is an experience you have had where you successfully resolved an OHS issue in your workplace?	Renata Musolino Occupational Health and Safety Information and Website Organiser
	12:05	Panel 1 Occupational violence in my workplace.	Krista Barnes HSR - Sebastapol Primary School
	12:12	Panel 2 Bullying and poor workplace behaviours.	Tarek Soueid HSR - Woolworths Distribution Centre Broadmeadows
	12:19	Panel 3 New solvents in my workplace.	Lauren Keillor HSR - Boeing Aero Systems Australia
	12:26	Panel 4 Setting up an HSR and DWG structure in my old workplace at Kraft.	Clayton Larkin WorkSafe Inspector
	12:35	Questions from the floor (25 min)
13:00-13:40 Lunch
4. Breakout Sessions	13:40	What are the key points we have learnt today? How well is consultation used in our workplaces? What can we do to improve consultation in our workplaces? Conference Evaluation	Bendigo: Deidre Chance
			MCEC Room 101: CPSU - Carl Marsich
			MCEC Room 102: Education Janet Marshall - AEU Brian Martin - IEUVicTas
			MCEC Room 103: General - Trevor Shewan
			MCEC Room 104: Sue Bull
			MCEC Room 105: AMWU Sarah Ross, Cindy O'Connor
			MCEC Room 106: Construction - Rose Nechwatel
			MCEC Room 108: Police - Michael Clark
			MCEC Room 110: General - Anna Pupillo
			MCEC Room 111 & 112: Health - Zoran Bukarica
			Plenary: Paul Sutton
14:40 Room Change to Plenary (10 min)
5. Wrap Up	14:50	Report Back and close	Luke Hilakari VTHC Secretary
15:20pm Close

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