Compliance risks and workplace regulation pressures are increasing for WA businesses, with even small errors carrying the potential for costly legal claims.
From redundancies and terminations to underpayment disputes, enterprise agreements and union right of entry, the onus is on employers to get it right – and if you don’t, non-compliance can have significant reputation and financial implications.
CCIWA’s upcoming five-day IR Masterclass, starting on February 16, 2026, aims to help business owners, HR practitioners and managers build practical, up-to-date knowledge across the full employment lifecycle.
Any new registrations received for our February IR Masterclass will go into the draw to win FREE tickets to CCIWA’s Annual Workplace Relations Conference later this year.
It’s no small feat to keep up with the increasingly complex industrial relations landscape, says Chris Nunn, CCIWA HR and Workplace Relations Manager.
He said many of the issues businesses face come from gaps in understanding rather than intentional mistakes.
“We regularly see businesses exposed to risk not because they’re doing the wrong thing deliberately, but because the rules have changed or been misunderstood,” he said.
“Industrial relations has become highly technical and relying on ‘how it’s always been done’ is no longer enough.”
Common IR challenges
CCIWA experts often see issues around award coverage, hours of work, leave entitlements and termination processes. Underpayments remain a major concern, particularly where roles have evolved over time without awards or classifications being reviewed.
“Award interpretation, enterprise agreements and managing performance issues are areas where mistakes are most likely to occur – and where the consequences can be serious,” Nunn said.
Union engagement and right of entry is another area where businesses can find themselves on the back foot.
“If managers don’t understand their rights and obligations when dealing with unions, situations can escalate very quickly,” Nunn said.
A practical, end-to-end approach
Delivered over five days across two weeks, CCIWA’s IR Masterclass takes participants through employment fundamentals, awards, enterprise agreements, investigations, performance management and ending employment. The sessions are run by our workplace relations, legal and WHS specialists who have real-world experience.
Past participants have reported that the IR Masterclass has given them greater confidence in decision-making, stronger compliance frameworks and a clearer understanding of risk.
“When you understand the rules, you can manage issues early, have better conversations with staff and avoid problems before they become disputes,” Nunn said.
The final session also includes expert-led case analysis and a tailored briefing, with an opportunity to network with fellow participants and presenters.
The next IR Masterclass starts on February 16, 2026.
Need some extra training or refreshers? See our full list of training courses.
