Amaya Hettige

Amaya is a Special Counsel in Kennedys’ Melbourne office, specialising in employment law and workplace relations litigation. Her practice covers the full spectrum of workplace relations matters, including unfair dismissal, general protections, discrimination and bullying claims, as well as industrial disputes. She regularly appears at conciliations, mediations and hearings, and across a range of jurisdictions including the Federal Court of Australia, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, the Magistrates’ Court, the County Court and tribunals such as the Fair Work Commission, VCAT, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Amaya has a strong insurance background, with extensive experience in employment practices liability (EPL) claims, including coverage advice and the defence of employment claims under industrial and workplace legislation.

Amaya advises clients across industries including retail, fast food, education, manufacturing and technology on matters such as contractual and instrument interpretation, sham contracting, leave and minimum entitlements, restraints of trade, disciplinary processes, legislative compliance and general risk management.

Amaya is an accredited specialist in Workplace Relations with the Law Institute of Victoria and has been recognised in the 2024-2025 Best Lawyers Australia: Ones to Watch list and Legal 500 (Labour and Employment) as a key contact for general protections claims. She is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria, the Industrial Relations Society of Victoria and Women in Insurance (Victoria).