Redlands Business Community Gathers for HR, Legal & Wellbeing Advice
On Thursday, 12 June, the Redlands Regional Jobs Committee delivered another powerful event designed to support and strengthen our local workforce. With local business operators, team leaders and HR decision-makers in the room, the ‘Expert Advice: HR – Legal – Wellbeing’ event tackled some of the most pressing challenges faced by Redlands employers today, including compliance, culture, and employee wellbeing. Held at the MyHorizon Function Centre in Capalaba, the event featured a carefully curated line-up of local experts sharing practical, professional advice to help businesses lead with clarity, confidence and care.
Legal Essentials Made Simple
Ben Schefe, Director of Employment Law & Litigation at McCarthy Durie Lawyers, gave a frank and informative overview of performance management from a legal perspective. His session helped demystify some of the biggest areas of confusion and risk, from how to manage underperformance lawfully to why procedural fairness is essential in protecting both employer and employee rights. Schefe reminded the audience:
“It’s not about ‘gotchas’ or traps. It’s about setting clear expectations, documenting your steps, and creating a fair process.”
Explore more insights from Ben
Creating High-Trust, High-Performing Teams
Des Kerr, Chair of RRJC and Owner of People & Culture Consulting, offered a practical guide to building workplace cultures that retain staff, foster loyalty, and reduce burnout. From onboarding right through to recognition and feedback, Kerr’s message was clear: culture is not a buzzword, it’s a business essential.
He walked attendees through strategies that any small business can apply, even with limited resources, to create a workplace people want to be part of.
Grab our free onboarding checklist
Mental Health and Psychological Safety
Dr Tom Hannan, Director and Psychologist at Evolve Wellbeing Psychology, took the conversation deeper, asking business leaders to consider their own well-being before supporting others.
“You can’t create psychological safety in your workplace if you’re burnt out yourself,” he said.
His session covered how stress and overload in leadership impacts teams, and gave attendees tools to build self-awareness, set boundaries, and model healthier work behaviours.
Read the full guide for leaders
Why This Matters
Small business owners are time-poor. They’re juggling compliance, retention, hiring, and the pressure of day-to-day operations (often without formal HR support). Events like this cut through the noise and provide trusted, expert advice tailored to the local context.
This event directly supports the Redlands Regional Jobs Committee’s 2024–2025 Action Plan, particularly its goal to:
“Support employers to improve workforce participation, reduce turnover, and build capability through access to practical workforce support.”
This wasn’t a sit-and-listen seminar. The energy in the room reflected a hunger for connection, clarity and community. Attendees shared their own challenges, asked questions, and walked away with tools they could implement immediately.
For more tools, insights and upcoming events, visit the Redlands Regional Jobs Committee
