BN Health Forum Melbourne: Mind Matters – The Intersection between Mental Health and the Law

Robert Dyer is a retired Judge of the County Court and an experienced mediator, currently practising through Lennon’s List Barristers. Appointed to the County Court in 2013, he sat primarily in the Common Law Division, presiding over numerous jury trials and acting as both the trier of fact and law in many more.

During his tenure, Judge Dyer served as the Judge in Charge of the Confiscation List, overseeing cases related to the restraint of proceeds of crime. He also sat in the Criminal Division and was appointed Vice President at VCAT, where he navigated complex legal disputes which often required a very different approach from traditional common law matters.

Before his judicial appointment, Mr Dyer practiced as counsel at the Victorian Bar for over thirty years, initially specialising in Workers Compensation before expanding into a broad range of common law matters, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. He became an Advanced Accredited Mediator in the late 1990’s, a role he continues to pursue after retiring from the bench, ensuring he remains engaged with current legal trends and dispute resolution practices.

Joanne Bryant is an occupational therapist and clinical hypnotherapist with over 40 years of expertise in rehabilitation, counselling, and clinical interventions. As CEO of CoWork Pty Ltd since 1997, she leads a team providing medicolegal opinions to the County and Supreme Courts on workers' compensation and medical negligence.

Previously an accredited NCF provider, Joanne shifted her focus in 2011 from onsite workplace rehabilitation to emphasising functional performance as a key factor in insurer and court decision-making related to pecuniary loss.

Beyond her professional work, Joanne has long been an advocate for individuals with major physical and psychological disabilities, providing support to agencies, carers, government services, and health professionals. She has volunteered as a Bereavement Counsellor with GriefLine and currently contributes to programme development at Outside the Locker Room, bringing deep insight into how disability impacts function and capacity.

Associate Professor Kaye Frankcom is a highly accomplished businesswoman, psychologist, and leader in the health sector. As an endorsed clinical and counselling psychologist, she has held national roles in psychology regulation and professional standards, shaping the landscape of professional practice in Australia.

Kaye established and later transitioned ownership of a thriving group psychology practice in Williamstown, Victoria and now focuses on supporting private allied health practices and clinical governance. A sought-after consultant, business coach, speaker, and trainer, she has co-authored two books on private practice: Fit for Practice (2016) and Creating Impact: The Four Pillars of Private Psychology Practice (2022).

Currently, she serves as an Associate Professor of Psychology at Deakin University, continuing to influence the field through research, education, and professional mentorship.

Natalie Laidlaw is a Special Counsel in BN's Melbourne Insurance & Health team, specialising in professional indemnity and health law. Her extensive professional indemnity experience includes acting for local and international insurers and their insureds, in defending claims against a broad range of professional clients across all Australian jurisdictions, including allied health practitioners, medical practitioners and pharmacists. Natalie has also acted on behalf of a number of hospitals, medical practitioners and health practitioners with regard to negligence claims, privacy complaints, defamation claims and complaints, and notifications to regulators.

Prior to joining Barry Nilsson, Natalie was a Legal and Claims Manager and Team Leader for a large insurer. This gives Natalie a unique perspective to appreciate the needs of the insurer and their client, allowing her to adopt a pragmatic approach in delivering the best possible outcome to her clients with a tailored solution that takes into account the associated risks.