
Assistance animals, discrimination and the law
The law involving assistance animals is complex and it can be difficult to find the right information if you already have an assistance animal or if you have a disability and are looking to receive the support of an assistance animal.

Lifting injuries in nursing: understanding your workers' compensation rights in Queensland
Queensland nurses are often required to engage in physically challenging and repetitive tasks such as lifting and moving patients and equipment. It is important for nurses and other healthcare professionals to understand their rights to workers’ compensation entitlements if injured in the workplace.

Weekly payments if injured at work in Queensland
In Queensland, WorkCover Queensland plays an instrumental role in providing financial support to injured workers through weekly payments to cover lost wages while they are unable to work or have limited working capacity due to their workplace injury. Learn more in our guide to weekly payments if injured at work.

Church employee unfairly dismissed for getting COVID vaccine
The Fair Work Commission determines that a Church employee’s dismissal for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine was unfair and awards $8,000 in compensation.

Worker’s compensation NSW: work capacity decisions
In NSW worker’s compensation claims, the insurer has the right to undertake a work capacity assessment in an injured worker. The purpose of a work capacity assessment is to determine what the injured worker’s current capacity is to earn in suitable employment as a result of their workplace injury.

Australian workers have the “Right to Disconnect” outside usual hours
Laws giving employees the right to refuse employer contact outside working hours came into effect from 26 August 2024 for employees of non-small businesses (15 or more employees). The same rights will become available for small business employees from 26 August 2025.

Medical negligence claims in Queensland
When a medical practitioner or healthcare provider acts negligently in the care of their patients, it can have severe and lasting impacts on those patients. Healthcare providers in Australia must act to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their patients, because a failure to do so may cause significant physical and psychological injuries.

Applying for and obtaining AHPRA registration
To gain registration as a health practitioner in Australia, you must be granted registration by the relevant Board. There are different types of AHPRA registration – general registration, specialist registration, provisional registration, limited registration and non-practising registration.

The process of unfair dismissal claims in the Fair Work Commission
If you’ve been terminated and you believe that termination is harsh, unjust or unreasonable, you may be eligible for an unfair dismissal claim in the Fair Work Commission.

Hall Payne Lawyers appoints Juliana Virine to Principal Solicitor
We are delighted to announce the promotion of Juliana Virine to Principal Solicitor at Hall Payne Lawyers.
Juliana’s promotion reflects not only her exceptional legal expertise but also the values of persistence and compassion that define her impact on the firm and her clients over the years.

Closing Loopholes No. 2: independent contractor arrangements
From 26 August 2024, the Fair Work Act definition of “employee” has changed. The changes were made to address issues related to the classification and treatment of independent contractors, ensuring fairer work conditions and protections for such workers.

Can I make handwritten changes to my Will?
A Will is an important legal document that may need to be changed over your lifetime. There are many reasons why you may want to change your Will. The temptation is to simply grab a pencil and make some handwritten changes to your Will. But this may affect the validity of your Will.