This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our
and .overview
The 34th Annual Medico-Legal Congress will be held on 26-27 March 2025 at the Swissotel Sydney. The Congress is a key opportunity for professionals from both the medical and legal fields to come together and address the latest issues, trends, and challenges impacting their work.
The comprehensive program is designed for clinicians from multiple settings, legal professionals, medico-legal advisers, hospital representatives, insurers, in-house counsel, AHPRA representatives, medico legal societies, academics, and government officials. A cornerstone in the medico legal calendar: attendees will experience and learn from practical, in-depth discussions on emerging trends, regulatory changes, and real-world case studies that impact your practice.
Topics to be Addressed:
- Emerging Medico Legal Aspects and Legislative Reforms in Nurse Practitioner Practice
- AI in Clinical Radiology: Recent Developments and Ongoing Pain Points
- Cases within the Supreme Court: Health Practitioner Disciplinary Matters
- What Information Does the NDIA Need to Make Access Decisions?
- Obstetric Litigation and Critical Change in Maternity Practice: What Do We Need to Know?
- Duty of Care and Ethical Considerations in Virtual Healthcare
- Putting the Expert Back into Expert Witness
- Protecting Doctors’ Health Post-Regulatory Notifications
- Can Restraint of Patients with Mental Health Conditions Really be Eliminated?
- Medicolegal Implications of Delayed Diagnosis in Cancer Care
- Civil Liability: Breach of Confidence & Tort of Invasion of Privacy
- Medicolegal Reports Arising from Infectious Diseases and Virology
- The Aging Doctor and The Older Specialist
- Medicolegal Aspects of Robotics in Colorectal Surgery
- Death Certificates: Medicolegal Implications and Inconsistencies in Legislation
- Prescribing Obligations and Legal Requirements: RTMP and Medical Records
- The Rise of Sovereign Citizen Presentations to Mental Health Practitioners and the Courts: Causes and Medico Legal Congress
- Personal Injury and Workers Compensation
- Navigating Recent Trends and Cases within Coroners Court & Coronial Inquiries
Why Attend?
The Congress brings together professionals from both the legal and medical sectors to discuss practical, current issues. It’s an opportunity to:
- Stay informed on emerging challenges at the intersection of law and healthcare.
- Network with professionals from across the medico-legal field.
- Gain practical knowledge to help manage complex medico-legal issues in your daily work.
- Learn from expert speakers who will cover key issues impacting your practice.
If you are a lawyer, clinician, or any other professional working in medico-legal fields, this Congress provides a useful forum to stay updated, discuss challenges, and gain insights that can be applied directly to your work.
Register Your Interest
To receive updates on speaker announcements, early bird discounts, and the release of the agenda, register your interest here.
Speakers

Dr Ian Freckelton AO KC
Barrister, The University of Melbourne

Professor Mary Chiarella AM
Professor of Nursing, University of Sydney

Professor William Rawlinson AM
Senior Medical Virologist, Director of Serology, Virology and OTDS Laboratories (SAViD), NSW Health Pathology Randwick

Dr Ainslie Senz
Emergency Physician, Director, Footscray Emergency Department, Western Health

Dr Owen Bradfield
Chief Medical Officer, Medical Indemnity Protection Society (MIPS)

Professor Anne-Maree Kelly
Director, Joseph Epstein Centre for Emergency Medicine Research, Senior Emergency Physician, Western Health, Melbourne, Adjunct Professor, The Australian Centre for Health

Dr Marija Kirjanenko
Emergency Physician, Eastern Health and Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, Clinical Ethicist, Plunkett Centre for Ethics, Medical member, Mental Health Tribunal, Victoria

Dr Aran Thillainathan
Deputy Executive Director of Medical Services, Hospitals North, Launceston General Hospital, Tasmania

A/Professor Julia Unterscheider
Consultant Obstetrician and Director of Birth Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne

Bill Madden
Senior Legal Counsel, Carroll & O'Dea Lawyers, Adjunct Professor, Australian Centre for Health Law Research (QUT)

Alice Robinson
Director & Principal Lawyer, Polaris Lawyers

Danielle Corden
General Counsel, Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne

Dr Susan Shedda
Colorectal Surgeon, Royal Melbourne Hospital

Eraine Grotte
Barrister, Jack Shand Chambers

Dr Michele Pathe
Forensic Psychiatrist, Professor, Swinburne University of Technology

Dr Robert Kuru
Spinal Surgeon, President, Spine Society, Independent Expert, Sinergy

Dr Natasha Laukens
Accredited Admitting Psychiatrist, Pine Rivers Private Hospital

Samuel Wolfhagen
Associate, Maliganis Edwards Johnson

Professor Tina Cockburn
Director, Australian Centre for Health Law Research

Dr Jamie Orchard
General Counsel, AHPRA

Justine Anderson
Senior Solicitor, Crown Solicitor's Office of NSW

Yolanda Kuruc
Special Counsel, Sparke Helmore Lawyers

Chris Pagent
Partner, Corrs Chambers Westgarth

Kate Betts
Partner, Corrs Chambers Westgarth

Kevin Connor SC
Barrister, Maurice Byers Chambers

Ruanne Brell
Senior Legal Advisor, Avant Mutual

Dr Andrew Walby
Director of Medical Services, Portland District Health, Emergency Physician, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne

James Lowrey
Barrister, William Foster Chambers

Dr Sandra Johnson
Consultant Paediatrician, Clinical Academic, The University of Sydney
Agenda
Pricing
Workshop
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP | Tuesday 25th March 2025
13:30 – 14:00 Registration | Arrival Tea & Coffee
14:00 –16:30 Workshop | Including Afternoon Tea 2:45pm – 3:00pm
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP | How to Stay on Top of Medical Negligence Matters
This in-depth session appeals to both medical practitioners and lawyers alike.
For medical practitioners, medical directors, administrators and CEO’s this session will explore what to expect if you receive a medical negligence case. What is important, and where to focus.
For legal representatives, this session will explore how to make your case airtight.
Workshop Leader
Dr Aran Thillainathan, Deputy Executive Director of Medical Services, Hospitals North, Launceston General Hospital, Tasmania
Testimonials
“I have just returned from your two-day conference, and I feel it is only appropriate that I take the time to give my personal thanks for such an excellent event. I recognize that it must have taken a great deal of time to plan and organize, and it was time well spent. With speakers of the highest standard as well as the introduction of a specialist key note speaker, it was the most memorable of all conferences. The organizers kept to the timing of each speaker. The venue was a perfect location for our visitors from interstate to attend and participate, as was the food. Your team made the event a joyful occasion. The overall quality of this year’s 33rd medicolegal conference was outstanding. Congratulations, and thank you.”
Delegate 2024
“Diverse range of topics and speakers, fantastic/respectful discussion, great chairs each day”.
Delegate 2023
“The congress provided great opportunities to meet and float research ideas which further reminds us of the importance of communication in healthcare”.
Delegate 2023
“Very broad coverage of medico legal topics. Very easy to understand and no overlapping”.
Delegate 2023
Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
The 34th Annual Medico-Legal Congress is one of Australia’s leading events for the medico-legal community, offering a unique platform to engage with key industry stakeholders and senior decision-makers across this industry.
As a sponsor or exhibitor, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with a diverse audience, share insights, and foster meaningful conversations about the latest developments in the field. This congress is not just about showcasing products and services; it’s about building lasting relationships and contributing to the future of medico-legal practice in Australia.
For more information on how to get involved, please contact;
Danielle Newman
Sponsorship Manager
+61 2 9080 4318
Danielle.Newman@informa.com
Insights
Informing decisions about medical negligence in complex infectious diseases cases
Read more >>
What do NSW health workers need to know about the new voluntary assisted dying laws?
Read more >>
Why more medico legal defendants are winning on causation
Read more >>
How might voluntary assisted dying legislation in NSW compare with other jurisdictions?
Read more >>
Wrongful birth damages – an interview with Bill Madden
Read more >>
Professor Euan Wallace’s keynote address at the Medico Legal Congress
Read more >>
The role and major challenges of a medical legal counsel
Read more >>
What are the Trends and the Future of Medical & Health Law?
Read more >>
The black, white and grey area of assisted suicide
Read more >>
Event Code of Conduct
We want everyone who comes to our events to have a great experience. This code explains our expectations and rules, which includes general good practice behaviour, and how to report anything witnessed or experienced that goes against them. Read our Event Code of Conduct here.
ConnectMe + Streamly
ConnectMe • Networking enhanced
All of our events utilise a bespoke dynamic smartphone app, ConnectMe – which guarantees attendees a premium event experience. Logins are sent prior to the conference commencement allowing you to check who’s attending, schedule in meetings and catch ups, participate in live Q+A and interactive polls, and much more. ConnectMe ensures you never miss a beat prior, during and post event.
Streamly • On-Demand video vault
Streamly is a new video platform from Informa Connect – hosting hours of session recordings from our events and more. Select the Streamly add-on at the checkout to receive an annual subscription to exclusive On-Demand session recordings from all of our related healthcare events*. Login information will be sent post event. For more information visit our Streamly page.
* Note: In a minority of cases, speakers may request their sessions to be excluded from Streamly access.
Sustainability
Our Commitment to Sustainability
In Australia, we are committed to running our events in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Across Informa Connect we are focusing on the short and long-term sustainability impacts we have on customers and colleagues alongside the communities we work in.
We recognise that it’s not just about the way we produce our events and products but recognising that we have a role to play in providing a space to work in partnership together with our markets to inspire the sustainable development of the industries we serve.
To read more on our latest sustainability reports and Faster Forward initiatives – click here.
when & where
26 - 27 Mar 2025
Swissotel Sydney
68 Market St,
Sydney NSW 2000
(02) 9238 8888
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION RATE
Secure your accommodation at the Swissotel Sydney with a special discount* off the best available rate at the time of booking.
To book this rate, please click here and follow the below instructions.
To load/see the rates available please enter the codes as per below
- Click on the Book Now link above
- Click on the drop down for “Special rates”
- Enter your booking dates
- Enter the code SCP2108566 in “Business client with contract”
- Enter the code IN435AU828 in “Access code”
- Click on “See rates”
Alternatively, please contact the hotel reservations team directly on 02 9238 8888 between 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday or email res.sydney@swissotel.com
* Rooms and rates are subject to availability at the time of booking, we suggest booking early to avoid disappointment.
contact
Still have a question?
Senior Conference Producer
Katrina Bowns
+61 2 9080 4322
katrina.bowns@informa.com.au
Senior Business Development Manager
Danielle Newman
+61 2 9080 4318
Danielle.Newman@informa.com
Marketing & Media Enquiries
Libbie Sinclair
Libbie.sinclair@informa.com