Current practice

Industry experience

Barry, an accredited personal injury law specialist with the Law Institute of Victoria, has extensive experience in the areas of employee relations and risk management. Barry has a focus on occupational health and safety (OHS), including proactive strategies for compliance and accident prevention.

Barry provides clients with integrated advice dealing with potential liabilities and outcomes, including OHS, WorkCover claims and return to work obligations, discrimination and WorkCover premium issues. Barry advised and represented the Victorian Congress of Employer Associations in the review and negotiation of the Bill.

Barry's specific experience has included assisting with development or provision and implementation of:

• risk management and OHS strategies, structures and procedures, including contractor safety, incident response and review of risk assessment methodology and procedure documents
• as co-author of the Victorian WorkCover Authority Guidelines for Local Government: Managing Contractor Health & Safety
• injury and claims management systems and return to work/rehabilitation procedures
• OHS/dangerous goods compliance and risk management audits
• advice on legal obligations and compliance methods, including integration of OHS into employment practices and procedures
• representing employers in prosecutions, notice appeals, at inquests and in dealing with the authorities
• advising and assisting in self-insurance applications and premium/classification appeals
• providing training workshops for management and staff.

Professional background

Barry holds an Honours degree in Bachelor of Laws and a Masters of Laws. Barry authored the OHS In Practice—A Guide to Legislation in Victoria, published in May 2005 and contributed to the development and several chapters of the CCH Master OHS and Environment Guide in 2003 and 2005.

Barry is an Honorary Fellow of the Safety Institute of Australia.

His memberships include the Industrial Relations Society of Australia, Association for Compliance Professionals of Australia, and Australian Insurance Law Association. He is the Occupational Health & Safety Coordinator of the Property Council of Australia.

Barry was appointed by the Federal Government in April 2008 to the three-person panel undertaking a national OHS review, with the task of reporting to Federal and state governments, recommending model legislation to be adopted by all jurisdictions. He features in the 2008 inaugural edition of Best Lawyers International for Labour and Employment.