Employment Relations and the Law
This employment relations short course offers a reduced early bird registration fee of $1200 until 12th December 2025. Alumni and staff discounts available with more information in the fees section.
Overview
Led by experts from the University of Sydney and the legal profession, the Employment Relations and the Law seminar series returns for 2026.
Learn the basics of employment and industrial law and practice through ten evening classes, covering the broad range of topics necessary for understanding the regulation of work in Australia.
No formal qualifications or presumed knowledge is required for enrolment. It is assumed that participants may vary considerably in their previous knowledge and experience of the various topics covered.
What you'll learn
By the end of this course you will:
- Understand the historical development and modern context of work relationships;
- Identify the different sources of law that apply to work relationships;
- Identify and understand the different regulatory instruments that impact work relationships including employment contracts, modern awards, collective agreements and statutory employment rights and obligations;
- Understand and engage with modern problems in regulating work relationships including but not limited to workplace health and safety, workplace bullying and worker conduct outside of the workplace.
Sydney Law School
Home to exceptional legal educators, world-renowned researchers and professional practitioners, the Sydney Law School is one of the top law schools in the world. Our alumni reflect our reputation for innovation and leadership. Offering legal short courses and a program of law events, allowing you to fulfill your annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirement.
CPD accreditation
Information for lawyers and barristers
If this educational activity is relevant to your professional development and practice of the law then you can claim up to 20 MCLE/CPD units for the full seminar series, based on 2 points per seminar attended per session. Practitioners are advised to check with the CPD governing body in their jurisdiction for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Find out about interstate accreditation.
Seminar program in detail
1. Introduction – History and Context
Presenter: Professor Shae McCrystal
Seminar date: Wednesday, 11 February 2026, 6:15pm to 8:15pm
CPD: 2 CPD Points
2. The Employment Contract
Presenter: Professor Joellen Riley
Seminar date: Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 6:15pm to 8:15pm
CPD: 2 CPD Points
3. Termination of Employment
Presenter: Associate Professor Sandy Noakes
Seminar date: Wednesday, 25 February 2026, 6:15pm to 8:15pm
CPD: 2 CPD Points
4. Fair Work System, NES, Awards
Presenter: Ms Jacqui Seeman
Seminar date: Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 6:15pm to 8:15pm
CPD: 2 CPD Points
5. Enterprise Agreements
Presenter: Professor Shae McCrystal
Seminar date: Wednesday, 11 March 2026, 6:15pm to 8:15pm
CPD: 2 CPD Points
6. Vulnerable Workers
Presenter: Associate Professor Stephen Clibborn
Seminar date: Wednesday, 18 March 2026, 6:15pm to 8:15pm
CPD: 2 CPD Points
7. Contemporary issues – Regulating Workplace Bullying
Presenter: Mr James Mead
Seminar date: Wednesday, 25 March 2026, 6:15pm to 8:15pm
CPD: 2 CPD Points
8. Discrimination and Equality
Presenter: Associate Professor Belinda Smith
Seminar date: Wednesday, 1 April 2026, 6:15pm to 8:15pm
CPD: 2 CPD Points
9. Workplace Investigations
Presenter: Ms Paula Hoctor
Seminar date: Wednesday, 15 April 2026, 6:15pm to 8:15pm
CPD: 2 CPD Points
10. Work Health and Safety
Presenter: Mr Nigel Salmons
Seminar date: Wednesday, 22 April 2026, 6:15pm to 8:15pm
CPD: 2 CPD Points
This course is designed for people from various backgrounds and with diverse professional interests seeking an efficient and stimulating way to learn the basics of employment and industrial law and practice in Australia.
These classes are delivered face-to-face in the Law Lounge on Level One of the New Law Building at the University of Sydney campus in Camperdown.
- Full fee: $1500
- Early bird fee (until 12th December 2025): $1200
- Group fee (3+ from same organisation): $1100 per person
- Alumni fee: $1000
- Sydney University Staff fee: $800
All courses must be paid in advance of commencing your course. We accept the following payment methods:
- Mastercard
- Visa
- American Express (only available for enrolments made through the Sydney Short Courses website)
- Electronic Funds Transfer (for company invoices only)
- Journal Transfer (for University of Sydney Staff only)
Please see our Payment Options for further information.
I have enrolled in a Sydney Short Courses course, what happens now?
Once your enrolment has been processed, you will receive the following emails:
- Enrolment confirmation: you will receive this immediately after your enrolment has been processed.
- Tax invoice: the payer of your enrolment will receive this immediately after your enrolment has been processed.
For some courses, you may also recieve the following:
- Course reminders: you will receive emails from Sydney Short Courses in the lead up to the course starting. These include information about the course and, if required, the schedule for online or face-to-face sessions.
- Course materials: if you are enrolled in a course that provides reading or other downloadable materials, you will get access to these materials prior to the class commencing.
- Online session links: you will receive reminder emails the day before and the day of each live session containing the meeting link and meeting ID.
Further enquiries
Upcoming classes
New Law Building
| When | Time | Where | Session Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 11 Feb 2026 | 6:15pm - 8:15pm (UTC+11:00) | Law Lounge - New Law Building | Introduction – History and Context |
| Wed 18 Feb 2026 | 6:15pm - 8:15pm (UTC+11:00) | Law Lounge - New Law Building | The Employment Contract |
| Wed 25 Feb 2026 | 6:15pm - 8:15pm (UTC+11:00) | Law Lounge - New Law Building | Termination of Employment |
| Wed 4 Mar 2026 | 6:15pm - 8:15pm (UTC+11:00) | Law Lounge - New Law Building | Fair Work System, NES, Awards |
| Wed 11 Mar 2026 | 6:15pm - 8:15pm (UTC+11:00) | Law Lounge - New Law Building | Enterprise Agreements |
| Wed 18 Mar 2026 | 6:15pm - 8:15pm (UTC+11:00) | Law Lounge - New Law Building | Vulnerable Workers |
| Wed 25 Mar 2026 | 6:15pm - 8:15pm (UTC+11:00) | Law Lounge - New Law Building | Contemporary issues – Regulating Workplace Bullying |
| Wed 1 Apr 2026 | 6:15pm - 8:15pm (UTC+11:00) | Law Lounge - New Law Building | Discrimination and Equality |
| Wed 15 Apr 2026 | 6:15pm - 8:15pm (UTC+10:00) | Law Lounge - New Law Building | Workplace Investigations |
| Wed 22 Apr 2026 | 6:15pm - 8:15pm (UTC+10:00) | Law Lounge - New Law Building | Work Health and Safety |