Macrossans Lawyers Brisbane law firm


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home arrow Rachel Drew
Rachel Drew

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BA/LLB (Hons), Queensland University of Technology 1998
Admitted to Supreme Court of Queensland January 2001
Admitted to High Court of Australia February 2002

Ph: 61 7 3292 9717
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Areas of practice

Employment advice and representation
Industrial relations
Equal employment opportunity and discrimination
Workers' compensation insurance, worker health and rehabilitation
Occupational health and safety compliance
Transmission of businesses
Restraint of Trade, Intellectual Property and Confidentiality
Superannuation entitlements

Experience

Rachel advises clients from large corporate employers in the manufacturing and engineering industry, to senior executive employees and not-for profit organisations. 

Rachel provides advice on employment law and industrial relations, including employee entitlements and award coverage, with particular specialty in the areas of workers' health legislation, discrimination, managing discipline and dismissal, assessing occupational health and safety compliance, and transmission of business issues.  

Workers' compensation

  • Managing over 100 WorkCover claims each year, representing both workers and employers in the Industrial Magistrates Court and the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission at the review and appeal level
  • Advising employers on WorkCover claims including obtaining factual evidence, advising on the correct level of compensation payable and rehabilitation obligations
  • Acting for the Queensland Teachers Union and the Queensland Independent Education Union, representing many members in workers' compensation claims and before the Medical Assessment Tribunals of WorkCover Queensland.

Occupational health and safety

  • Reviewing the OHS policies for the Queensland Independent Education Union including auditing compliance against relevant legislation, and drafting internal policies and procedures
  • Advising an international timber company in responding to an incident involving a forklift accident, which resulted in a grievous bodily harm injury.  Successfully avoiding any prosecution to date.

Workplace relations

  • Providing advice to businesses regarding transition to the Fair Work Act 2009 including advising on new employee entitlements and changed employer obligations
  • Prosecuting and defending unlawful dismissal claims in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and Queensland Industrial Relations Commission
  • Successfully defending a childcare operator in the Federal Magistrates Court against a claim for unlawful dismissal by a former employee

Equal employment and opportunity

  • Representing clients in the Anti-Discrimination Commission and Tribunal and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

Professional memberships and appointments

Certified Professional, Australian Human Resources Institute
Queensland Law Society

Publications and presentations:

  • Fair Work Act 2009 - New Standards: Queensland Law Society Newsflash: Employment Law Update Series 30 June 2009 
  • Managing Excess Sickness and Reducing Abssenteeism Within the Law: IES Conferences Australia, 18 June 2009  
  • Workplace Fraud, Issues for Employers in a 21st Century Workplace: LegalWise Seminar, 27 March 2009.
  • Key IR Changes and the Impact for HR Professionals: paper presented at 9th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 20 November 2008
  • New Employment Law for HR and Operational Managers: Managing Your Workplace for Compliance with the New IR Reforms,paper presented at IES Conference, Brisbane, 13 November 2008 
  • Protecting the Business Brand, article published in Recruitment Extra magazine, September 2008
  • Managing excessive sickness, absenteeism + injury management, paper presented at 8th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 14 July 2008
  • Current issues in education law: Child Protection, paper presented at Diocesan Student Protection Conference Rockhampton, 17 June 2008
  • Managing excessive sickness, absenteeism + injury management, paper presented at 8th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 14 July 2008
  • Administrating Education Law, paper presented at Queensland Teachers' Union Administrator's Conference, Brisbane, 8 August 2008
  • Age Discrimination in Education & Teachers' Rights in relation to violent students", Independent Education Journal, Winter 2008
  • Protecting the Business Brand, article published in Recruitment Extra magazine, September 2008
  • New Employment Law for HR and Operational Managers: Managing Your Workplace for Compliance with the New IR Reforms, paper presented at IES Conference, Brisbane, 13 November 2008
  • Key IR Changes and the Impact for HR Professionals, paper presented at 9th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 20 November 2008
  • Anaphylactic shock - when schools are given responsibility what does it mean legally for school staff?, Independent Education Journal, November 2007
  • Pinpointing the legal avenues available in managing excessive sickness and absenteeism, paper presented at 7th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 29 November 2007
  • Independent Contractor Arrangements, Australian Financial Review, Enterprise, Damien Lynch (Ed), October 2007
  • Acting out: An impairment discrimination complaint workshopped, presentation at Australian New Zealand Education Law Association Annual Conference, Hervey Bay, 27 September 2007
  • EEO, Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying, presented at the ALB IR and Employment Law Masterclass, July 2007.
  • What sort of items should I be auditing in my end of financial year workforce audit? Australian Financial Review, Enterprise, Damien Lynch (Ed), April 2007
  • Current issues in education law: Child Protection, paper presented at Diocesan Student Protection Conference Rockhampton, 17 June 2008
  • Managing excessive sickness, absenteeism + injury management, paper presented at 8th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 14 July 2008
  • Administrating Education Law, paper presented at Queensland Teachers' Union Administrator's Conference, Brisbane, 8 August 2008
  • Age Discrimination in Education & Teachers' Rights in relation to violent students", Independent Education Journal, Winter 2008
  • Protecting the Business Brand, article published in Recruitment Extra magazine, September 2008
  • New Employment Law for HR and Operational Managers: Managing Your Workplace for Compliance with the New IR Reforms, paper presented at IES Conference, Brisbane, 13 November 2008
  • Key IR Changes and the Impact for HR Professionals, paper presented at 9th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 20 November 2008
  • Anaphylactic shock - when schools are given responsibility what does it mean legally for school staff?, Independent Education Journal, November 2007
  • Pinpointing the legal avenues available in managing excessive sickness and absenteeism, paper presented at 7th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 29 November 2007
  • Independent Contractor Arrangements, Australian Financial Review, Enterprise, Damien Lynch (Ed), October 2007
  • Acting out: An impairment discrimination complaint workshopped, presentation at Australian New Zealand Education Law Association Annual Conference, Hervey Bay, 27 September 2007
  • EEO, Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying, presented at the ALB IR and Employment Law Masterclass, July 2007.
  • What sort of items should I be auditing in my end of financial year workforce audit? Australian Financial Review, Enterprise, Damien Lynch (Ed), April 2007
  • Current issues in education law: Child Protection, paper presented at Diocesan Student Protection Conference Rockhampton, 17 June 2008
  • Managing excessive sickness, absenteeism + injury management, paper presented at 8th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 14 July 2008
  • Administrating Education Law, paper presented at Queensland Teachers' Union Administrator's Conference, Brisbane, 8 August 2008
  • Age Discrimination in Education & Teachers' Rights in relation to violent students", Independent Education Journal, Winter 2008
  • Protecting the Business Brand, article published in Recruitment Extra magazine, September 2008
  • New Employment Law for HR and Operational Managers: Managing Your Workplace for Compliance with the New IR Reforms, paper presented at IES Conference, Brisbane, 13 November 2008
  • Key IR Changes and the Impact for HR Professionals, paper presented at 9th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 20 November 2008
  • Anaphylactic shock - when schools are given responsibility what does it mean legally for school staff?, Independent Education Journal, November 2007
  • Pinpointing the legal avenues available in managing excessive sickness and absenteeism, paper presented at 7th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 29 November 2007
  • Independent Contractor Arrangements, Australian Financial Review, Enterprise, Damien Lynch (Ed), October 2007
  • Acting out: An impairment discrimination complaint workshopped, presentation at Australian New Zealand Education Law Association Annual Conference, Hervey Bay, 27 September 2007
  • EEO, Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying, presented at the ALB IR and Employment Law Masterclass, July 2007.
  • What sort of items should I be auditing in my end of financial year workforce audit? Australian Financial Review, Enterprise, Damien Lynch (Ed), April 2007
  • Current issues in education law: Child Protection, paper presented at Diocesan Student Protection Conference Rockhampton, 17 June 2008
  • Managing excessive sickness, absenteeism + injury management, paper presented at 8th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 14 July 2008
  • Administrating Education Law, paper presented at Queensland Teachers' Union Administrator's Conference, Brisbane, 8 August 2008
  • Age Discrimination in Education & Teachers' Rights in relation to violent students", Independent Education Journal, Winter 2008
  • Protecting the Business Brand, article published in Recruitment Extra magazine, September 2008
  • New Employment Law for HR and Operational Managers: Managing Your Workplace for Compliance with the New IR Reforms, paper presented at IES Conference, Brisbane, 13 November 2008
  • Key IR Changes and the Impact for HR Professionals, paper presented at 9th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 20 November 2008
  • Anaphylactic shock - when schools are given responsibility what does it mean legally for school staff?, Independent Education Journal, November 2007
  • Pinpointing the legal avenues available in managing excessive sickness and absenteeism, paper presented at 7th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 29 November 2007
  • Independent Contractor Arrangements, Australian Financial Review, Enterprise, Damien Lynch (Ed), October 2007
  • Acting out: An impairment discrimination complaint workshopped, presentation at Australian New Zealand Education Law Association Annual Conference, Hervey Bay, 27 September 2007
  • EEO, Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying, presented at the ALB IR and Employment Law Masterclass, July 2007.
  • What sort of items should I be auditing in my end of financial year workforce audit? Australian Financial Review, Enterprise, Damien Lynch (Ed), April 2007
  • Current issues in education law: Child Protection, paper presented at Diocesan Student Protection Conference Rockhampton, 17 June 2008
  • Managing excessive sickness, absenteeism + injury management, paper presented at 8th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 14 July 2008
  • Administrating Education Law, paper presented at Queensland Teachers' Union Administrator's Conference, Brisbane, 8 August 2008
  • Age Discrimination in Education & Teachers' Rights in relation to violent students", Independent Education Journal, Winter 2008
  • Protecting the Business Brand", article published in Recruitment Extra magazine, September 2008
  • New Employment Law for HR and Operational Managers: Managing Your Workplace for Compliance with the New IR Reforms, paper presented at IES Conference, Brisbane, 13 November 2008
  • Key IR Changes and the Impact for HR Professionals, paper presented at 9th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 20 November 2008
  • Anaphylactic shock - when schools are given responsibility what does it mean legally for school staff?, Independent Education Journal, November 2007
  • Pinpointing the legal avenues available in managing excessive sickness and absenteeism, paper presented at 7th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 29 November 2007
  • Independent Contractor Arrangements, Australian Financial Review, Enterprise, Damien Lynch (Ed), October 2007
  • Acting out: An impairment discrimination complaint workshopped, presentation at Australian New Zealand Education Law Association Annual Conference, Hervey Bay, 27 September 2007
  • EEO, Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying, presented at the ALB IR and Employment Law Masterclass, July 2007.
  • What sort of items should I be auditing in my end of financial year workforce audit? Australian Financial Review, Enterprise, Damien Lynch (Ed), April 2007
  • Current issues in education law: Child Protection, paper presented at Diocesan Student Protection Conference Rockhampton, 17 June 2008
  • Managing excessive sickness, absenteeism + injury management, paper presented at 8th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 14 July 2008
  • Administrating Education Law, paper presented at Queensland Teachers' Union Administrator's Conference, Brisbane, 8 August 2008
  • Protecting the Business Brand, article published in Recruitment Extra magazine, September 2008
  • New Employment Law for HR and Operational Managers: Managing Your Workplace for Compliance with the New IR Reforms, paper presented at IES Conference, Brisbane, 13 November 2008
  • Key IR Changes and the Impact for HR Professionals, paper presented at 9th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 20 November 2008
  • Anaphylactic shock - when schools are given responsibility what does it mean legally for school staff?, Independent Education Journal, November 2007
  • Pinpointing the legal avenues available in managing excessive sickness and absenteeism, paper presented at 7th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 29 November 2007
  • Independent Contractor Arrangements Australian Financial Review, Enterprise, Damien Lynch (Ed), October 2007
  • Acting out: An impairment discrimination complaint workshopped, presentation at Australian New Zealand Education Law Association Annual Conference, Hervey Bay, 27 September 2007
  • EEO, Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying, presented at the ALB IR and Employment Law Masterclass, July 2007.
  • What sort of items should I be auditing in my end of financial year workforce audit?" Australian Financial Review, Enterprise, Damien Lynch (Ed), April 2007
  • Current issues in education law: Child Protection, paper presented at Diocesan Student Protection Conference Rockhampton, 17 June 2008
  • Managing excessive sickness, absenteeism + injury management, paper presented at 8th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 14 July 2008
  • Administrating Education Law, paper presented at Queensland Teachers' Union Administrator's Conference, Brisbane, 8 August 2008
  • Age Discrimination in Education & Teachers' Rights in relation to violent students, Independent Education Journal, Winter 2008
  • Protecting the Business Brand, article published in Recruitment Extra magazine, September 2008
  • New Employment Law for HR and Operational Managers: Managing Your Workplace for Compliance with the New IR Reforms, paper presented at IES Conference, Brisbane, 13 November 2008
  • Key IR Changes and the Impact for HR Professionals, paper presented at 9th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 20 November 2008
  • Anaphylactic shock - when schools are given responsibility what does it mean legally for school staff?, Independent Education Journal, November 2007
  • Pinpointing the legal avenues available in managing excessive sickness and absenteeism, paper presented at 7th Annual Employment Law Intensive, Tonkin Corporation, Brisbane, 29 November 2007
  • Independent Contractor Arrangements, Australian Financial Review, Enterprise, Damien Lynch (Ed), October 2007
  • Acting out: An impairment discrimination complaint workshopped, presentation at Australian New Zealand Education Law Association Annual Conference, Hervey Bay, 27 September 2007
  • EEO, Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying, presented at the ALB IR and Employment Law Masterclass, July 2007.
  • What sort of items should I be auditing in my end of financial year workforce audit? Australian Financial Review, Enterprise, Damien Lynch (Ed), April 2007