Natalie Warnock v Director General, Department of Education — Benchmark

Ratio

The Commission issued procedural directions by consent to regulate the conduct of the unfair dismissal hearing, including leave for videolink evidence, admission of expert evidence, amended submissions outline, and sequential written submissions by the parties.

Outcome

Resolved other

Authority signal

Not yet cited by other cases Signal-weighted score: 0.0

Derived from how later decisions have treated this case. Dark green = leading authority, green = positively treated, grey = neutral or sparse data, amber = caution, red = treated negatively.

Key facts · 5

The applicant, Natalie Warnock, filed an unfair dismissal application against the Director General, Department of Education
The application was filed on 2 October 2025 (Form 1A)
An expert report by Dr Ian Sherman was dated 13 August 2025
The parties appeared by counsel and the directions were made by consent
The matter was set down for hearing before Commissioner C Tsang

Legislation referenced

Industrial Relations Act 1979 (WA)

Concept tags · 6

[P]Unfair dismissal (WA) [P]Teacher / educator [S]Public sector matter (general WAIRC jurisdiction post-PSAB) [S]Witness outline timing & scope [S]Evidence — admissibility [S]Leave for legal representation

Related cases · 10

Decisions sharing two or more primary concepts with this case.

Citation	Court	Date	Outcome	Shared	Cited
[2015] WASCA 66 BRETT -v- SHARYN O'NEILL, DIRECTOR GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION	WA Court of Appeal	2015-04-07	Against applicant	2	4
[2022] WAIRC 317 Adrian Doyle v Roman Catholic Bishop of Bunbury	WAIRC — Full Bench	2022-07-29	Against applicant	2	2
[2019] WAIRC 716 Colin R Dixon v Director General, Department of Education	WAIRC — Full Bench	2019-09-18	Against applicant	2	1
[2018] WAIRC 320 Barry Landwehr v Ms Sharyn O&#039	WAIRC — Full Bench	2018-05-29	For applicant	2	1
[2018] WAIRC 105 Barry Landwehr v Ms Sharyn O&#039	WAIRC — Full Bench	2018-02-14	Resolved	2	1
[2009] WAIRC 128 Industrial Law (WA) — Appeal against interim order reinstating teacher to full duties	WAIRC — Full Bench	2009-01-01	Against applicant	2	1
[2018] WAIRC 844 Union of W.A. (Incorporated) v The Director General, Department of Education	WAIRC — Single Commissioner	2018-11-13	For applicant	2	1
[2016] WAIRC 388 Union of W.A. (Incorporated) v The Director General, Department of Education	WAIRC — Single Commissioner	2016-06-27	Resolved	2	1
2026 WAIRC 00165 Natalie Warnock v Director General, Department of Education	WAIRC — Single Commissioner	2026-03-20	Against applicant	2	0
[2018] WAIRC 856 Union of W.A. (Incorporated) v Director General, Department of Education	WAIRC — Single Commissioner	2018-11-16	Resolved	2	0

Archived text (309 words)

UNFAIR DISMISSAL APPLICATION WESTERN AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION PARTIES Natalie Warnock APPLICANT -v- Director General, Department of Education RESPONDENT CORAM Commissioner C Tsang DATE TUESDAY, 7 October 2025 FILE NO. U 3 OF 2025 CITATION NO. 2025 WAIRC 00838 Result Direction issued Representation Applicant Mr C Fogliani (of counsel) Respondent Mr M McIlwaine (of counsel) Direction HAVING heard from Mr C Fogliani (of counsel) on behalf of the applicant and Mr M McIlwaine (of counsel) on behalf of the respondent, the Commission, pursuant to the powers conferred under the Industrial Relations Act 1979 (WA), and by consent, hereby directs – 1. THAT Trevor Stace have leave to give his evidence at the hearing via videolink. 2. THAT the applicant have leave to rely upon the expert report of Dr Ian Sherman dated 13 August 2025, marked as Annexure B and enclosed with her Form 1A – Application filed on 2 October 2025 (report), at the hearing of this matter. 3. THAT the report stand as Dr Sherman’s evidence-in-chief and that Dr Sherman have leave to give his evidence at the hearing via videolink. 4. THAT the applicant have leave to rely upon the Applicant’s Amended Outline of Submissions, marked as Annexure A and enclosed with her Form 1A – Application filed on 2 October 2025, at the hearing of this matter. 5. THAT the respondent have leave to file, within two-weeks of the conclusion of the hearing of this matter, amended written submissions addressing the report and the Applicant’s Amended Outline of Submissions. 6. THAT the applicant have leave to file, within one week following the date of service of the respondent’s written submissions at Direction 4 above (respondent’s submissions), written submissions in reply addressing any matters raised in the respondent’s submissions that were not raised by the respondent in closing oral submissions at the hearing. Commissioner C Tsang