After a 15 year involvement with the organisation it is now time for me to say goodbye.
On 25 November 1998 I was privileged to take 12 women who shared my passion to make a difference on a personal journey of discovery - to a conference where women across Australia were being encouraged to support Regional Development. I wanted to whet their appetite to drive change. It worked and in December 1998 WiB&RD was born and ever since then I have proud to be part of a team of dedicated and committed women working to support the personal and professional development of other women.
Our organisation is unique in regional Australia and has continually delivered on its promise to Ignite the Potential of Women.
I hope to see many of you at our 15 year celebration on 20 November 2013 at the Naracoorte Town Hall where I might personally get an opportunity to share with you the many highlights that have made the organisation what it is today.

All too often, clients come to us at Andersons and tell us about instances where both they and their colleagues have been treated unfairly because they raised a legitimate concern regarding Work Health & Safety (WHS) conditions in the workplace (previously referred to as Occupational Health & Safety or OHS).

Some client’s have been treated like outcasts by management after commenting that certain work practices are unsafe. Other clients have been told not to bother applying for a promotion after raising a WHS issue. Some have been told they are simply being troublemakers for talking about WHS in the workplace.

This treatment is unprofessional, unethical and unlawful, and it should not be tolerated.

The Work Health and Safety scheme was developed nationally over recent years. The law was designed to increase safety in Australian workplaces and provide Australians with the same standard of health and safety protection regardless of the type of work they do, or where they work.

The Work Health and Safety Act became operational in South Australia on 1 January 2013.

One of the most important aspects of the legislation involved the prohibition against discriminatory, coercive and misleading conduct in relation to work health and safety matters. This is enshrined in Part 6 of the new laws.

This type of conduct may deter people from being involved in activities or exercising rights that are important to workplace health and safety.

‘Workers’ and even ‘prospective workers’ are protected by the legislation. Importantly, a worker encompasses more than just an 'employee' and can include a contractor/subcontractor, an employee of a labour hire company, an outworker, an apprentice/trainee, a work experience student and a volunteer.

The protections even apply to commercial arrangements; for example, refusing to enter into a contractual arrangement with a person or organisation (eg, a supplier or manufacturer) because of a safety related activity, may be a breach of the law.

The law even creates a criminal offence for a person to engage in discriminatory conduct for a ‘prohibited reason’. This offence carries a maximum penalty of $100,000 in the case of an individual or $500,000 in the case of a body corporate (a company for example).

‘Discriminatory conduct’ is broadly defined and may include:
• Dismissing a worker;
• Demoting a worker;
• Providing less overtime;
• Providing less flexible working hours;
• Treating a job applicant less favourably than another; etc.
It is important to note that there may be valid reasons to dismiss a worker or withdraw overtime. However, it is unlawful if this is done for a ‘prohibited reason’. Prohibited reasons include (but are not limited to):
• The worker is an elected Health and Safety Representative, or on a Health and Safety Committee, and performs functions related to that position;
• The worker performs a function, or refrains from performing a function under the Work Health and Safety Act;
• The worker assists someone else in performing a function under the Act;
• The worker raises WHS concerns or attempts to resolve a WHS issue.

There are different thresholds that apply to determine if the matter is a criminal offence or a civil breach. If a reason mentioned above is the ‘dominant reason’ for the discriminatory conduct, then the matter may involve criminal prosecution. The Industrial Relations Court may order compensation, reinstatement or make other orders.

If the reason mentioned above is a ‘substantial reason’ for the discriminatory conduct, then the matter may involve civil penalties, including injunctions against the particular conduct, compensation or reinstatement. A one year time limit applies to commencing a civil claim.

Both civil and criminal proceedings can be brought against the same conduct.

Other offences involve requesting, instructing, inducing, encouraging, authorising or assisting another person to engage in discriminatory conduct. Any intentional conduct to intimidate, force or cause a person to act or to fail to act in relation to a work health and safety issue is strictly prohibited.

For example, threatening to sack a Health and Safety Representative if they issue a Provisional Improvement Notice at a workplace is clearly unlawful (a Provisional Improvement Notice or ‘PIN’ can be issued by a trained Health and Safety Representative requiring a person/organisation to remedy a WHS Contravention or prevent a likely contravention from occurring).

Finally, it is unlawful to misrepresent in relation to a person’s rights under the WHS Act. For example, it would be unlawful to tell a worker that he/she has no legal right to report a safety issue, when clearly they do have that right.

So don’t put up with any unfair behaviour from managers or colleagues in relation to safety issues in the workplace. If you have workplace safety concerns, you should report them immediately.

If you feel there are clear criminal or civil breaches of work health and safety in the workplace, you can also seek guidance, advice and assistance from solicitors experienced in this field or you can contact the Government regulator, SafeWork SA.
Michael Irvine
Solicitor
Andersons Solicitors
P: 8238 6642
E: mirvine@andersons.com.au
Please note, this article is posted in Adelaide, South Australia by Andersons Solicitors. It relates to South Australian legislation.

Bliss Candles, Homeware, Giftware, Coffee & Cake is a new and unique shop that opened in Kingston SE 13 months ago. Owner Suzanne Drabsch has created Bliss based on the vision to create a shop where exceptional customer service was the norm, where you were guaranteed to get exceptional coffee and that was open 7 days a week. It was important to Suzanne to support locals so she serves Mahalia Coffee from Robe, her cakes come from Sweet Desires in Keith, her biscuits from BSweet in Tintinara and she also stocks a great range of produce sourced from all over the South East. She stocks a gorgeous range of candles and soy melts from Limestone Coast Candles in Bordertown. Bliss is stocked with a gorgeous range of homewares and giftware handpicked by Suzanne.
Customers have provided amazing feedback to Suzanne saying how at home they feel and how much they love Bliss.
Editor's Note - When next in Kingston make sure you visit Blizss and say hello to Suzanne

Jack Welch (former CEO of GE) once said:

“Before you are a leader success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others”

In today’s uncertain times, it has never been more important for businesses to have a leader who can clearly articulate the way forward in a way which inspires others to follow. However, in order to be such a leader, the person aspiring to fulfill such a role must first understand themselves and the way they impact on those around them. It is only through increased self-awareness that a person can truly start leading and growing others.
"The workshop is designed to provide the participants with improved levels of knowledge about themselves and the way they operate in a business environment. With a better understanding about themselves, they will be able to continue their personal growth in a way which will demonstrate leadership to others in business and ultimately success in the business," concludes Duncan Redman of Altus Q, Experiential Coaching.
WHERE: Settlers Cafe Conference Room, 85 Gordon Street Naracoorte
WHEN: Tuesday 13 August 2013
TIME: 9.00 am - 5.00 pm
COST: $55 GST Inclusive
More news shortly but enquiries to executive@wibrd.org.au

Free IT workshops across the region beginning 12 June 2013 that Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast has secured funding for and is supported by Lifestyle1.
It doesn't matter if you have a business or are just starting up. There will be a series of six across different topics during the next five months.
Contact Dani McKinnon ph: 08 8723 1057 or
email: reception@rdalimestonecoast.org.au
See flyer here

If you haven't already heard the State Government has extended the New Home Construction Grant $8500 until the end of the year !!!
This is great news for those of you who were considering building and signing contracts before the end of June , but thought the stress of getting it all done in the next few weeks was too much. This will give you time to get either the perfect block or the perfect plan, and also gives first home buyers that extra time to get savings for a deposit, and take advantage of the Lower interest rates.
If you need any information on requirements for the Grants go to Revenue SA website or drop into one of our GJ Gardner Homes offices at 1 Arthur Street Naracoorte or 84 Commercial Street West Mount Gambier and watch this space for a new office to open soon...Meg Dohse

Afternoon of networking & information
Brain Injury Network of SA
More news soon.

WHEN: Wednesday 3 July 2013
WHERE: TBA
FOR: Clients, Service Providers & Stakeholders

Empowering Women
Gayle Green, Finishing Touch Salon
Rachelle McKay, Arbonne Skin Care

More news shortly.
WHEN: 6.00 pm Thursday 10 July 2013
WHERE: Finishing Touch Salon, Ripley Arcade with banquet dinner following at Gourmet India, Commercial Street East
COST: TBA

Community Breakfast
Committee for Portland
Building economic prosperity
Building sustainable Community

WHEN: 7.30 am Thursday 25th July 2013
WHERE: Richmond Henty
RSVP: anita@committeeforportland.com.au

Cooking up a Storm
Sage Cooking School
Numbers are limited so book early - teams will be cooking a 3 course meal using local seasonal produce

WHEN: 6.00 pm Wednesday 11 September 2013
WHERE: 210 Commercial Street West Mount Gambier
COST: TBA
Bookings: executive@wibrd.org.au

Donny Walford and the team at behind closed doors are pleased to announce the opening of the 2013 behind closed doors entrepreneurs scholarship for female business owners and entrepreneurs in South Australia.

The behind closed doors entrepreneurs scholarship offers female business owners the opportunity to further expand their leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

The scholarship takes the form of an annual membership in the behind closed doors entrepreneurs program conducted in Adelaide and valued at more than $7000.00.

The behind closed doors entrepreneurs program was created in response to a need for female business owners and entrepreneurs to have a support network where they can discuss strategies, issues and challenges in a totally confidential environment, while at the same time encourage each other to extend themselves further to achieve and succeed in their business ventures.

The program’s objectives aim to:

The winner of the scholarship will be assigned to a behind closed doors entrepreneurs group in Adelaide. The entrepreneurs groups are facilitated by Kylie Bishop, Loewn Steel and Terri Scheer, three of South Australia’s leading businesswomen. The group meets 10 times a year and each session runs for three hours from 12pm to 3pm in a boardroom located on the premises of our supporters and includes a light lunch.

Applications for the 2013 behind closed doors entrepreneurs scholarship close 5.00pm Wednesday 31st July 2013.

For further information on how to apply for the behind closed doors entrepreneurs scholarship, along with the eligibility criteria, please refer to our website