AU

Australia Employment Law & HR Services

Expert guidance on Australian employment regulations, Fair Work Act, and compliance requirements tailored to your business needs.

25+ Local Experts
English Support
Fair Work Certified
Modern Awards Expertise

Key Australian Employment Regulations

Understanding the complex landscape of Australian employment law

Fair Work Act

The primary legislation governing employment in Australia, establishing minimum entitlements and protections.

  • National Employment Standards (NES)
  • Unfair dismissal protections
  • General protections against adverse action
  • Anti-discrimination provisions

Modern Awards

Industry or occupation-based minimum employment standards that apply in addition to the NES.

  • Over 120 industry and occupation awards
  • Minimum pay rates and classifications
  • Penalty rates and allowances
  • Industry-specific conditions

Enterprise Agreements

Collective agreements negotiated between employers and employees that replace applicable modern awards.

  • Must pass the Better Off Overall Test (BOOT)
  • Negotiated terms and conditions
  • Approval by Fair Work Commission required
  • Typically 3-4 year duration

Working Hours & Leave

Regulations governing maximum working hours, flexible arrangements, and various leave entitlements.

  • 38-hour standard work week
  • 4 weeks annual leave (plus loading)
  • 10 days personal/carer's leave
  • Long service leave (varies by state)

Common HR Challenges in Australia

How Ask Athena helps navigate Australian employment complexities

Award Interpretation

Determining which modern award applies and correctly interpreting complex provisions.

Our Solution

Expert analysis of your workforce to identify applicable awards and provide clear guidance on compliance requirements.

Termination Risks

Navigating unfair dismissal claims and ensuring procedural fairness in terminations.

Our Solution

Step-by-step guidance through performance management and termination processes to minimize legal risks.

Wage Compliance

Ensuring correct payment of base rates, penalties, allowances, and superannuation.

Our Solution

Comprehensive payroll audits and ongoing compliance monitoring to prevent underpayment issues.

Contractor vs. Employee

Correctly classifying workers and avoiding sham contracting arrangements.

Our Solution

Legal assessment of working arrangements and guidance on proper classification to avoid penalties.

Australian Employment Compliance Services

Comprehensive support for businesses operating in Australia

Compliance Audits

Thorough review of your employment practices against Australian employment laws.

  • Modern award compliance assessment
  • Contract and policy review
  • Payroll audit and rectification
  • Risk assessment report

Documentation

Legally compliant employment documentation tailored to Australian requirements.

  • Employment contracts
  • Workplace policies and procedures
  • Enterprise agreement assistance
  • Performance management templates

Advisory Services

On-demand expert advice on Australian employment law matters.

  • Fair Work Commission representation
  • Restructuring and redundancy guidance
  • Enterprise bargaining support
  • Workplace investigations

Training

Customized training programs for Australian workplace compliance.

  • Manager compliance training
  • Workplace bullying and harassment
  • Discrimination and EEO
  • Health and safety obligations

Australian Success Stories

How we've helped businesses navigate Australian employment challenges

Tech Scale-up Avoids Fair Work Claim

Industry: Technology

Challenge: Rapidly growing tech company needed to restructure and make several roles redundant while avoiding unfair dismissal claims.

Solution: Provided comprehensive redundancy strategy, including selection criteria, consultation process, and outplacement support.

Result: Successfully implemented restructure with no legal claims and maintained positive employer brand.

Hospitality Group Resolves Award Compliance

Industry: Hospitality

Challenge: Multi-site restaurant group discovered potential underpayment issues across their workforce.

Solution: Conducted comprehensive wage audit, developed rectification plan, and implemented new payroll processes.

Result: Voluntarily remediated underpayments, avoiding Fair Work investigation and negative publicity.

UK Company Enters Australian Market

Industry: Professional Services

Challenge: UK-based consulting firm expanding to Australia needed guidance on local employment requirements.

Solution: Provided comprehensive Australian employment compliance package, including contracts, policies, and payroll setup.

Result: Smooth market entry with fully compliant employment practices from day one.

Our Australian Employment Experts

Dedicated specialists with deep knowledge of Australian employment law

Sarah Mitchell

Head of Australian Practice

Former Fair Work Commission advisor with 15+ years of experience in Australian employment law and industrial relations.

Fair Work Act Enterprise Bargaining Workplace Investigations

David Chen

Senior Employment Counsel

Employment litigation specialist with extensive experience representing clients before the Fair Work Commission.

Unfair Dismissal General Protections Workplace Disputes

Emma Thompson

HR Compliance Manager

HR professional specializing in modern award interpretation and practical compliance solutions.

Modern Awards Payroll Compliance HR Documentation

Australian Employment Resources

Practical tools and guides for Australian employers

Guides & Templates

Download practical guides and templates for Australian employment compliance.

Access Resources

Compliance Calendar

Key dates and deadlines for Australian employment compliance obligations.

View Calendar

Cost Calculator

Calculate total employment costs including superannuation and payroll tax.

Use Calculator

Webinar Series

On-demand webinars on key Australian employment law topics.

Watch Webinars

Get Expert Australian Employment Law Support

Submit your query for free initial guidance from our Australian employment specialists.

For urgent inquiries, email us directly at [email protected]