Hunt & Hunt has extensive experience acting for primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in Australia and overseas.
Our education lawyers are well-respected in the education sector and provide advice to many universities, colleges and schools in New South Wales, Victoria and Asia.
Clients value our commercial and cultural advice on complex joint ventures, exchange programs, and credit recognition for academic technology transfer in Australia, China, South East Asia and the Indian Subcontinent.
We have longstanding relationships with Australian state departments of education, local and international universities and TAFEs, and with Austrade. This gives us a detailed understanding of industry issues.
Hunt & Hunt advises educational institutions on property acquisition and divestment; leasing issues for offsite sporting facilities and overseas campuses; planning issues, including dealing with local councils and planning appeals; contract arrangements with service providers; workplace relations, employment and safety; governance, policy and compliance issues; privacy; and debt recovery matters.
In workplace relations, employment and safety, we provide outcome focused advice on all issues. This includes assistance with enterprise agreements, and advice on relevant award compliance and interpretation, relating to the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2010; Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2010; Higher Education Industry – Academic Staff – Award 2010; and Higher Education Industry – General Staff – Award 2010. We assist in dealing with relevant state regulators to help you achieve compliance (such as, in Victoria, the VRQA and CCYP, for child safety issues).
We advise on health and safety issues in relation to student activities, including excursions and overseas travel.
For clients who have overseas students, we also advise on responsibilities under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) regime and National Code of Practice (NCP).
In the area of disability and discrimination, we act on behalf of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in relation to general advice and the defence of discrimination litigation under state and federal legislation.
We also advise educational institutions on joint venture arrangements and establishing offshore campuses.