Local Government & Public Administration Industry Forum

DXC is pleased to invite you to an in-person industry forum bringing together leaders and specialists from across Local Government, State Government and Public Administration.

The agenda brings together perspectives from DXC, HR Legal, PACE Health Management, Wodonga Council, AP Psychology & Consulting Services and Navigator Group to explore how organisations can move beyond compliance to prevent injury, support recovery and build stronger, more resilient workplaces

Participants will gain practical insights into the legal, psychosocial, occupational health and injury management issues shaping the sector, along with strategies they can apply within their organisations..

Date: Wednesday, 2 September, 2026
Time: 9:00am – 2:00pm
Location: Level 19, 360 Collins St, Melbourne

8:30am – 9:00am

Registration, Networking & Refreshments

9:00am – 9:15am

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Hosted by DXC

• Welcome and forum objectives
• The evolving workforce in local government and public administration
• Why workforce health, safety and recovery matter to community outcomes

9:15am – 9:40am

State of the Sector: What is Driving Injury Risk in Local Government?

Presented by DXC

Key discussion areas:

• Current injury and claims trends across the sector
• Growth in psychosocial injury claims
• Ageing workforce considerations
• Cost of delayed intervention and prolonged claims
• Return-to-work outcomes and workforce participation
• Premium pressures and financial impacts on councils

9:40am – 10:10am

A Manager's Balancing Act: Accountability, Performance and Psychosocial Safety

Presented by Dan Feldman, Managing Partner and a founding partner of HR Legal

Overview:

Managers play a critical role in shaping workplace culture, employee wellbeing and organisational performance. Yet many leaders struggle to balance accountability, performance expectations and interpersonal workplace issues while meeting increasingly complex psychosocial health and safety obligations. In this session, HR Legal Managing Partner Dan Feldman will explore practical strategies for managing underperformance, difficult behaviours and workplace conflict through strong leadership and effective interpersonal skills.

Attendees will gain practical tools to build manager confidence, navigate difficult conversations, balance support with accountability, and create respectful workplace cultures where performance expectations, psychological safety and employee wellbeing can successfully coexist.

10:10am – 10:40am

The Foundation Stone: Why Inherent Requirements Underpin Fair and Defensible Workforce Decisions

Presented by Ben Southam, Managing Director & Principal Occupational Health Specialist, PACE Health Management

This session will explore how Job Task Analysis (JTA) and inherent requirements frameworks provide the foundation for:

• Objective and defensible workforce decisions
• Recruitment integrity and role clarity
• Effective performance management
• Evidence-based fitness-for-duty assessments
• Functional capacity evaluations and medical reviews
• Better return-to-work outcomes
• Reducing organisational risk while supporting workers fairly

10:40am – 11:00am

Morning Tea & Networking

11:00am – 11:45am

Psychosocial Risk Management: A Real Council Story

Co-facilitated by Lachie Coates from Wodonga Council and Krisha Hunt, Principal Consultant at AP Psychology & Consulting Services, a leading expert in psychosocial risk management.

Wodonga Council will share its practical approach to psychosocial risk management, including why it invested in psychological health and safety, the actions taken, outcomes achieved and lessons for other Victorian councils. This one-hour session will provide real-world insights and actionable recommendations to help councils move beyond compliance and build safer, healthier workplaces.

Session agenda:

• Practical steps for identifying and controlling psychosocial hazards
• Lessons from Wodonga Council’s psychological health and safety strategy
• Why they began investing in psychological health and safety
• The role of leaders in psychosocial risk management

11:45am – 12:15pm

Navigator Group Presentation: Addressing the Growing Challenge of Chronic Injury and Secondary Psychological Injury

Focus:

• The growing prevalence and impact of chronic injury.

• The relationship between chronic injury and secondary psychological injury.

• Opportunities for earlier intervention and integrated care.

• How Navigator's multidisciplinary model supports improved recovery and return-to-work outcomes.

12:10pm – 12:50pm

Expert Panel Discussion & Audience Q&A

12:50pm – 1:00pm

Key Takeaways & Closing Remarks

Presented by DXC

• Top insights from the forum
• Practical actions organisations can implement immediately
• Resources and support available to councils and public sector organisations

1:00pm – 2:00pm

Networking Lunch

An opportunity to connect with peers, presenters and industry experts to continue discussions and share experiences across the sector.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will leave with practical insights to:

✅ Understand emerging injury and workforce risks impacting local government and public administration
✅ Navigate evolving psychosocial and legislative obligations with confidence
✅ Implement effective Job Task Analysis and inherent requirements frameworks
✅ Improve injury prevention and early intervention strategies
✅ Better support workers experiencing chronic injury and persistent pain
✅ Strengthen organisational capability, workforce wellbeing and return-to-work outcomes
✅ Build safer workplaces that contribute to stronger communities and sustainable public services.

Please confirm your policy number and organisation when booking. Seating is limited to 70, so be sure to register early to secure your spot.