For many people, Human Resources is associated with policies, compliance and difficult conversations. For Terry Snow, that perception is exactly what sparked his interest in the profession.
After working across the aged care and disability sectors, Terry became curious about why HR was so often viewed negatively and how it could instead become a positive force for both businesses and their people. That curiosity led him into Human Resources, where he has found a genuine passion for helping create better workplace experiences.
We sat down with Terry to learn more about what inspires him and the experiences that have shaped his approach to supporting people.
What first sparked your interest in HR?
Most of my career has been in the aged care and disability sectors, where I noticed a negative association with human resources. It made me curious as to why that was. As I was given opportunities to work alongside HR, I got to see behind the scenes and saw there was real opportunity for HR to make a positive difference. When the chance came to move into the profession, I jumped at it and haven’t looked back.
You’ve worked in aged care and disability. What lessons have those industries taught you about supporting people?
Those roles taught me to see the value in every individual and to never underestimate anyone; the people I had the privilege to care for taught me some of life’s most valuable lessons. Being part of their stories and supporting them to overcome some of the most difficult situations in their lives has taught me how to be more resilient in my own life.
If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would that be?
Men’s mental health. I’d love to be able to better educate, support and advocate for men who may be struggling and help remove some of the stigma around asking for help.
Tell us about your ideal weekend?
If I’m not cruising on my motorcycle, it would have be away camping at the beach with a fishing rod in hand.
What has surprised you the most since stepping into this role at Focus HR?
I’ve been surprised by just how much there is to learn in HR – how much I really didn’t know and how much I have learned in a short time. I’ve seen companies list values just to tick a box, but Focus HR truly lives its values and I’m proud to say I am part of this awesome team.