Workplace session to focus on compliance and culture

NORTHERN Rivers businesses are being encouraged to rethink how they approach the modern workplace, as compliance and culture increasingly shape performance, recruitment and growth.

Business NSW Northern Rivers will host its annual workplace update session on Wednesday April 29 in Ballina, bringing together legal and workplace experts to help employers navigate regulatory responsibilities while building strong, inclusive workplace cultures.

Business NSW Northern Rivers regional director Jane Laverty said the session was designed to help employers balance both priorities.

“For many employers, the challenge is not just keeping up with workplace laws it’s understanding how compliance and culture work together to create a strong, sustainable business,” she said.

“You can’t have one without the other. Getting compliance right protects your business, but investing in culture is what enables it to grow, attract people and perform.”

Workplace relations expert Kate Thomson from Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors will provide a practical update on recent industrial relations changes and what they mean for employers.

Paul Dodd from Corporate Culcha will also present, focusing on how Reconciliation Action Plans can support more inclusive, high-performing workplaces.

 

Laverty said expectations from employees, customers and the broader community were shifting.

“We’re seeing a shift where employees, customers and communities expect more from organisations, not just compliance, but leadership,” she said.

“Reconciliation Action Plans are a practical way for businesses to strengthen culture, build trust and connect more meaningfully with their people and their community.”

She said the session remained a popular annual event for business owners, managers and HR professionals looking to stay informed and manage risk.

The Annual Workplace Update, titled Navigating Employment, Culture and Compliance Responsibility and Opportunity, will run from 9am to 11.30am on Wednesday April 29, with arrivals from 8.30am and light refreshments provided.

The session will be held in the Anzac Room at Ballina RSL Club, with bookings essential via Humanitix. Tickets are $25 plus GST for members and $30 plus GST for non-members.