Today: The Bar Association’s Mental Health First Aid Course in practice

09/10/2024

Online - Wednesday, 9 October 2024 at 5pm

Please join Bruce Hodgkinson AM SC and Penny Thew of the IEHS Committee on 9 October 2024 as they discuss the Bar Association’s MHFA course in practice, to be chaired by Stuart Lawrance SC of the Wellbeing Committee. Barristers and clerks are encouraged to attend this CPD, which will examine:

1. the Bar Association’s MHFA course, aimed at enhancing and promoting the wellbeing of barristers and chambers by providing skills to listen, connect and support through implementing best practice workplace procedures.

2. how the course dovetails with obligations on all barristers and chambers, as Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs), under the SafeWork NSW Psychological Health and Safety Strategy 2024-2026 launched on 22 May 2024, as well as the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and anti-discrimination legislation such as the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), including under the positive duty under Part IIA.

3. how the course may assist compliance with these obligations, having regard to the following:

• in May 2024, SafeWork NSW identified “bullying, harassment, exposure to traumatic events, work isolation and poor support” as constituting psychological injury hazards, stating it would implement “compliance checks.”
• in 2021, SafeWork NSW deemed the legal profession a “high risk profession” including because of the exposure of legal practitioners to bullying and harassment.
• on 27 September 2024, the Bar Association issued a statement in the AFR in support of proposed mandatory ‘equality and wellbeing’ training, including in respect of bullying and harassment.
• the Bar Association’s MHFA course as a mechanism to assist in tackling bullying and harassment.

Please note: Only NSW barristers or members of the NSW Bar Association can register for CPDs or webinars.

To register for this CPD, please click here. This CPD will be run by registration only. Numbers are limited.

Please provide any written questions in advance to cpd@nswbar.asn.au.