Tara is a vital member of the SLF Workplace Relations & Safety Team. She is passionate about providing strategic advice and representation to clients on a wide range of employment matters including:

• drafting and negotiating contractual terms;
• providing advice on workplace policies and procedures;
• representing clients in the Fair Work Commission, Federal Circuit and Federal Courts and VCAT in matters such as unfair dismissal, general protections, and underpayment claims;
• advising on the interpretation of complex provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), associated instruments such as modern awards and enterprise agreements, and relevant state-based workplace laws;
• assisting clients to implement lawful and practical performance management and termination of employment procedures; and
• supporting employers to conduct fair and lawful workplace investigations.

Tara has a track-record of successful outcomes for clients including:

• providing pro-bono advice to a not-for-profit organisation regarding modern awards covering its workforce;
• advising a large national retailer on enterprise bargaining after the expiration of a long-term zombie agreement;
• appearing on behalf of a large retailer in the Fair Work Commission to successfully oppose an application for a majority support determination;
• providing advice on the trans-Tasman implications of the Fair Work Act for international employers;
• assisting employers in determining obligations for long service leave entitlements under the Leave Plus Scheme for construction industry workers;
• conducting a workplace investigation on behalf of a Victorian government entity involving allegations of serious misconduct against an employee; and
• advising a group of employees of a large brewery on a proposed enterprise agreement and its compliance with the BOOT test.

Tara holds a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of Psychological Science, and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. She is also admitted as a Legal Practitioner to the High Court of Australia.