Meghan Thomas-Richards

Meg graduated from the Australian National University in 2015, while working part-time at the Australian Federal Police Association.

Following admission to practice in the ACT in 2016, Meg moved back to her home in Melbourne and worked at the Fair Work Commission as a Researcher in the award modernisation team. She then worked as a Relief Associate to various Commission members on a wide variety of matters that come before the Fair Work Commission. During this time, Meg also volunteered at the JobWatch telephone information service.

Meg then worked as an Industrial Officer with the Police Association in Victoria for almost 5 years, with 12 months dedicated to representing members’ interests in disputed worker’s compensation claims.

Meg also led several significant disputes against the employer, including those related:

• to flexible working arrangements;
• recognition of prior policing service;
• fitness for work; and
• consultation for organisational change.

Meg was also integral in organising and educating early career members in the months leading up to the membership taking protected industrial action in 2019. In 2020, Meg was a bargaining representative who drafted a log of claims, and negotiated and finalised the enterprise agreement that covered staff members at the Association.

Meg moved to Hobart in October 2022 and worked as a generalist solicitor at a local community legal service. She specialised in all employment law matters and took great pleasure in assisting southern Tasmanians with their rights and entitlements at work, including securing excellent outcomes for unfair dismissal and general protections matters.

She then, along with her husband, spent several months travelling Australia in a converted four-wheel drive troopcarrier.

Meg understands and knows the value of providing an empathetic ear and information about a client’s legal options. She strongly believes in collective activism for all social justice issues and the power of collective bargaining. She is also a proud union member.

In her spare time Meg enjoys any outdoor activity including twitching, nature photography, hiking, sailing and kayaking.