2nd Annual Veterans’ Entitlement & the Royal Commission
With the ongoing Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission, this seminar offers the information you need to maintain a solid grounding in the specialised areas of military compensation and veterans’ entitlement. Examine key findings and the potential implications of the Royal Commission, along with what you need to know about submissions & mental health. Gain practical insights into best practices when advocating or appearing before a tribunal when and how to accept or challenge a decision. WEB2111N31
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD units including:
2.5 units in Substantive Law
0.5 unit in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Chair: Katrina Harry PSM, National Registrar and Chief Legal Counsel, Veterans Review Board
9.00am to 9.15am Keynote Address
Presented by Katrina Harry PSM, National Registrar and Chief Legal Counsel, Veterans Review Board
DEFENCE AND VETERAN SUICIDE ROYAL COMMISSION
9.15am to 10.00am Update: Royal Commission into Veteran Suicide
- Background: the DVA and Government backflip
- The Terms of Reference and the Commissioners
- Who is covered?
- Navigating the pro formas and assistance
- Constructing and presenting submissions
- Life after the Royal Commission
Presented by Greg Isolani, Partner, KCI Lawyers
Professional Skills
10.00am to 10.45am Don’t Forget About the Brain of the ‘Mind’
When considering your client's mental health and support needs, this may include needing assessment and/or ongoing psychotherapeutic support for:
- Types of acquired brain injuries (including traumatic brain injuries) potentially related to service conditions, client mental health struggles and/or substance use
- Assessment results to enhance future outcomes and client wellbeing
- Strategies for increasing client engagement with and understanding of legal processes
Presented by Dr Aimee Velnoweth, Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Neuropsychologist, Mind and Matter: Clinical and Neuropsychological Services
10.45am to 11.00am Break
ADVOCACY AND ACCEPTING OR CHALLENGING DECISIONS
11.00am to 11.45am Best Practice for Advocacy
- Initial claim advocacy: working with delegates
- Review advocacy: assisting tribunals
- Facts and advocacy: the narrative
Presented by Matt Black, Barrister, Quay 11 Chambers
11.45am to 12.30pm Offsetting, Claims & Challenging Decisions
- Offsetting and how to avoid double dipping
- Which Act should a claim be accepted under?
- Challenging permanent impairment decisions
Presented by Tim White, Partner, Tindall Gask Bentley
Presenters
Katrina Harry PSM
Katrina is the National Registrar and Chief Legal Counsel of the Veterans’ Review Board, responsible for managing the staff and functions of the Board across Australia. A lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in local, state and federal Government, Katrina led the development of the Board’s transformative Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program and in 2017 was awarded a Public Service Medal for her work. Katrina is an Accredited Specialist in Government and Administrative Law. In addition, as a former senior lawyer at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Katrina regularly appeared as the solicitor on the record at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, as well as providing legal and policy advice.
Matt Black
Matt is a barrister at the Queensland Bar and a member of Quay 11 Chambers. He has a particular interest in administrative law, and appears for both applicants and respondents in merits and judicial review proceedings. He has a broad practice, including general civil litigation, personal injuries, disciplinary law, and workers' compensation. Before coming to the Bar, Matt practised as an in-house lawyer with Centrelink in the areas of administrative law, social security, and general advising.
Greg Isolani
Greg Isolani is a partner at KCI Lawyers. In 1995, he established an Australia wide, "Military Compensation" practice at Ryan Carlisle Thomas and appeared before Senate and Commonwealth committees advocating veteran’s issues, including policies and procedures with respect to sexual harassment resulting in the investigation into ADFA in 1997. In 2001, he was a founding partner of KCI Lawyers, specialising in Military Compensation, Superannuation, Litigation and Coroner’s Inquests. From 2001 to 2003, he sat on the DVA, "Working Group" to reform Veterans’ legislation leading to the introduction of the Military, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (2004). He is an author in the "Lawyers Practice Manual" in "Veterans’ Law" and publishes articles in journals, magazines and continues to advocate on behalf of Veterans’ and their families.
Dr Aimee Velnoweth
Dr Aimee Velnoweth is a dual-endorsed Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Psychologist with 10 years of experience in providing both neuropsychological assessments and psychotherapeutic interventions to adults and older adults. An ex servicewoman herself she recognises the diverse needs of those who have served, providing private neuropsychological assessment services to current serving members and veterans. With her main client populations being people with ABIs, mental health issues and/or dementias, her experience spans inpatient, outpatient, NGO slow-stream ABI rehabilitation, mental health and private practice settings.
Tim White
Tim White is equity Partner at Tindall Gask Bentley. Tim White has assisted injured people for more than 25 years. Tim's has a specialised interest in advising commonwealth employees and Defence Force Members/Veterans. He has a personal injury client base as diverse as Australian society itself, and embraces unique elements related to his varied outside interests and associations. Chief among these is Tim’s membership of the Royal Australian Air Force Reserves, in which he serves as a Legal Officer with the rank of Squadron Leader. He also assists civilian Commonwealth employees injured at work with Comcare claims all around Australia. Tim was the 2020 president of the Law Society of South Australia.