Catherine Russo Email & Phone Number

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Conducting reviews for the Department of Treasury and Finance for their Gateways Review Program, Infrastructure and Assurance Unit, Commercial Division. The role includes reviewing major government infrastructure and digital transformation projects in the health, education and justice (courts and law enforcement) sectors, providing specialist governance, legal and project management expertise.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

This role reported to General Counsel and supports the program areas by providing accurate and timely legal advice and support a range of business and program initiatives. A key aspect of the role was drafting and negotiating agreements, commercial and non-commercial contracts, service level agreements with technology suppliers. I provided legal, regulatory and commercial advice to the business and being an enabler by participating in the design to solutions to address complex problems. I streamlined self-service processes and drafting templates for AITSL’s procurement processes and contract management system, implemented strategic compliance and regulatory initiatives and worked with state and territories and commonwealth department’s legal entities in relation to teacher regulation.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The AITSL strives to promote excellence so that teachers and leaders have the maximum impact on learning in all Australian schools and early childhood settings. My tenure here has seen me excel in delivering the National Review of Teacher Registration as part of the Minister for Education’s National Reform Agenda. All state and territory Ministers for Education have signed an agreement to participate in the national review. As Senior Policy and Project Officer and Secretariat, I have carriage of the independent Expert Panel who were appointed to develop a report for Education Council. Providing support as Secretariat, I expertly established the functions and governance for the National Review. Key achievement was responding to the Royal Commission into Institutional Reporting of Child Abuse Recommendations and working with Teacher Regulatory Authorities across Australia to harmonise nomenclature in legislation and policy, processes, standards and agree on information exchange principles to address a mobile teaching workforce and recognising mutual recognition requirements.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

AHPRA supports the 15 National Boards that are responsible for regulating the health professions. The primary role of the National Boards is to protect the public, and they set standards and policies that all registered health practitioners must meet. Recognised for my subject matter expertise, I was appointed to set up and improve the Ministerial and National Board governance and appointment processes, manage Human Resources (HR), and Employee Relations (ER)challenges of Board and Committee members, in addition to improving the life cycle and experience of Board members. Operating effectively within an Executive Service environment, I maintained intergovernmental relations with the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council (AHWMC), Council of Australian Governments (COAG), Health Ministers across Australia, as well as AHPRA. My portfolio encompassed 14 National Boards, 20 State and Territory and Regional Boards, National Committees, and Approved Persons List for Panel members as prescribed under the National Law.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Leading and participating in state-wide and national government regulation projects in the Health Practitioner Regulation environment, I leveraged my capabilities across regulatory reform, stakeholder engagement and expert leadership. I expertly reviewed and established the functions and processes under legislation for National Health Practitioner Ombudsman and Privacy Commissioner’s Office (NHPOPC), as per the request of the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC), including the financial budget for the operation of the NHPOPC. I successfully established the $2 million National Project Team that was approved by the AHWMC, which went on to conduct a national review within the fourth year of AHPRA’s operation to comply with National Law.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Appointed with a view to setting up the ER function within the Branch, I was a member of the whole-of-government Victorian Public Service (VPS) Enterprise Agreement and preparing for the 2012 appointment. The appointment was a result of a change to the machinery of government changes that led to the DH separating from the Department of Human Services (DHS).

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

In this role I markedly improved Tribunal dispute outcomes through mentoring and coaching programs for Senior Executive Officers and Managers, thereby increasing their understanding of ER policies, their delegations, HR practices and legislative obligations, including the development of seminars and presentations at differing levels of management. I developed and implemented internal case precedent knowledge management system, with assisted tools, working closely with the Industrial Relations (IR) Department to share resources and build HR and compliance capability for HR practitioners. I successfully introduced HR and ER Practice Notes and Community of Practice seminars for state-wide HR practitioner and front-line managers.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

In this role I was successful in the implementation of Risk Assessment of the Family Violence Framework (FVF) for Magistrates’ Court of Victoria. This included training all court registrars to meet compliance and gain a stronger understanding of legislation, as well as their role in delivering a quality service to the public under the Family Violence Framework. I implemented the online ePerformance management system and manual, which was later adopted by the County and Supreme Court. The system aligned with the strategic direction of the MCV and led to the redesign and update of position descriptions that more closely reflected the job value of each. I also acted in the position of Principal Registrar for the Magistrates Court of Victoria for a period of two months. This allowed me to refine my capabilities as Manager Organisational Development and Training Unit, performing higher duties as the most senior role within the MCV.

Admission To Practice As A Barrister And Solicitor Of The Supreme Court Of Victoria

Postgraduate Diploma

Juris Doctor

Graduate Diploma Of Arts

Graduate Certificate In Theology

Bachelor Of Education - Bed