Meet Your Employment Relations Team

QHA’s Employment Relations Department (“ERD”) is a dedicated and consummate industrial relations and human resources team. Specialists in agreement making and employer advocacy in the hospitality industry, the ERD is setting a high standard for expertise and professionalism in the rapidly evolving and complex employment relations arena.

The team consists of:

Joanna Minchinton Employment Relations Manager

Joanna Minchinton joined the QHA team in the position of Employment Relations Manager in August 2008 and brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience in industrial relations and human resource management to QHA members.

Prior to joining QHA, Joanna held the position of Workplace Relations and Legal Department Manager with the Queensland Branch of the Australian Medical Association ("AMA Queensland") for five and a half years, and assisted members with a range of workplace issues and medical board registration matters. Prior to AMA Queensland, Joanna held industrial relations positions with AMA New South Wales and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Queensland.

Over the past 14 years, Joanna has worked for membership-based organisations assisting members with their telephone queries on Award and legislation interpretations, right through to providing formal representation in jurisdictions such as the Queensland and Australian Industrial Relations Commission (now Fair Work Australia) and the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland. Joanna is also an experienced trainer having delivered education programs on topics including WH&S, policy and procedure development, ER and general business principles.

Joanna holds a Bachelor of Commerce (IR and HRM double major) and a Graduate Diploma in Employment Law, and is mid way through the MBA (Executive Program) with RMIT University in Melbourne.

Memberships include:

• Certified Professional, AHRI
• Industrial Relations Society of Queensland (Management Committee 08-09)
• Hospitality Training Association.

Moira Harvey Employment Relations Advisor

Moira began working at QHA in the Employment Relations Department in February 2007.

Moira provides members with advice in the areas of:

• Federal and State award application;
• The fair work legislation and its application to hospitality employers;
• Termination, discipline and performance management/appraisal matters;
• Workers' Compensation;
• 457 Visas;

and other general employment relations enquiries such as employee entitlements and HR policies. Moira also delivers relevant training and education sessions to members.

Moira is currently the QHA representative for the Industrial Relations Education Committee (IREC) and is also a member of the Industrial Relations Society of Queensland (IRSQ) and Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI).

Moira completed tertiary study at the University of Queensland in June 2006 and recently completed a Masters Degree in Employment Relations at Griffith University in 2009.

Janelle Hingston Employment Relations Officer

Janelle joined the Employment Relations team in February 2009 as an Employment Relations Officer.

Prior to commencing with QHA, Janelle held a generalist HR role within the media industry in Brisbane.

Both Janelle and Skevie (see below) are first points of contact for members seeking assistance with their employment relations queries, which include award conditions of employment, wages, workplace legislation and its application to hospitality, and termination and discipline queries.

Janelle has completed a Bachelor of Business Administration (Human Resource Management), and is currently studying for a Graduate Certificate in Industrial Relations.

Skevie Sotiris Employment Relations Officer

Skevie joined QHA’s Employment Relations Department in December 2008 in the casual position of Employment Relations Assistant. Skevie works on a casual basis on Mondays and Fridays each week and spends the remainder of her week at Griffith University where she is completing a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business (Industrial Relations) dual degree.

Throughout her Uni studies Skevie has worked for membership organisations in similar roles, including at AMA Queensland where she worked with Joanna Minchinton, and comes to QHA with a strong customer focus and experience interpreting Awards.

Both Skevie and Janelle (see above) are first points of contact for members seeking assistance with their employment relations queries, including Award terms and conditions such as long service leave, wages, and other entitlements. Skevie can also assist members seeking more information about Award coverage and application.