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New Approaches

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On this page

  • About New Approaches
  • How the Commission can help
  • Making an application
  • Allocation to a Commission Member
  • Process overview

 

About New Approaches

One of the functions of the Fair Work Commission is 'promoting cooperative and productive workplace relations and preventing disputes' (see s.576(2)(aa) of the Fair Work Act 2009).

The Commission can help employers, employees and their representatives build cooperative and productive workplaces that accept change and foster innovation.

New Approaches complements the Commission’s existing dispute resolution and bargaining functions by providing a formal process to help parties to work together effectively to prevent disputes before they develop.

The New Approaches jurisdiction enables the Commission to work with parties to:

  • promote cooperative and productive workplace relations through interest-based approaches to bargaining for enterprise agreements
  • develop new ways of resolving conflict or disputes at the workplace using interest-based problem-solving
  • support the introduction of change, innovation and productivity improvement through new ways of collaborating outside of the bargaining cycle, and before a dispute occurs.

How the Commission can help

The Commission may provide assistance where one or more employer and employee parties at a workplace or business agree to the Commission’s involvement.

The services the Commission may provide include:

  • training in interest-based bargaining
  • help with enterprise bargaining
  • help with developing joint processes to implement enterprise agreements
  • training in interest-based dispute resolution
  • training and assistance in collaborative workplace change, including training for consultative committees

The jurisdiction does not replace the Commission’s existing functions under the Fair Work Act 2009 relating to dispute resolution and enterprise agreement making.

Making an application

One or more employer and employee parties at a workplace or business who agree to the Commission providing assistance can make an application. To do so, parties should use Form F79 – Application for the Commission’s assistance to promote cooperative and productive workplaces and prevent disputes (Word).

All applications received will be assessed by the Commission, in consultation with the parties, to determine whether the application is appropriate for the New Approaches jurisdiction.

Allocation to a Commission Member

Parties can request the assistance of a specific Commission Member in their application form. Requests will be assessed and accommodated where possible.

If no Commission Member is specified in the application, a Commission Member will be allocated to the matter as part of the application assessment process.

Find out more

For information on how the New Approaches program has assisted parties to date, please visit the New Approaches case studies page.

A New Approaches research reference list (PDF) is available and provides information for users seeking to further their understanding of the concepts that underpin the program, such as interest based bargaining and alternate dispute and conflict resolution techniques.

If parties would like to discuss the New Approaches process before agreeing to make an application, please contact the Commission at NewApproaches@fwc.gov.au.

Process overview

Please note: this model illustrates an overview of the New Approaches process. Some applications may be more complex, so the process may require additional steps.

  1. Parties agree to approach the Fair Work Commission for assistance

  2. down arrow

    Parties complete and lodge the application Form F79 with the Commission

  3. down arrow

    The Commission assesses the suitability of the application to be handled as a New Approaches matter

     
     
      1. down arrow

        Application assessed as suitable for New Approaches and the parties are notified

      2. down arrow

        New Approaches file is allocated to a Commission Member

      3. down arrow

        Workshops / conferences conducted with the parties to progress the discussions and negotiations

      4. down arrow

        Commission provides ongoing support and guidance throughout the life of the application

      5. down arrow

        Matters subject to the application conclude

      6. down arrow

        Matter closed

      1. down arrow

        Application assessed as not suitable for New Approaches and parties are advised.

        Advice may include an alternative provision under the Fair Work Act to access the Commission's assistance

      2. down arrow

        Matter closed

 

Last updated

05 June 2017

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