INSPIRATION.
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Fuel Excise Relief Ends: What It Means for the RTCCO
As of midnight on 3 August 2026, Australia's temporary fuel excise relief came to an end, resulting in fuel excise returning to its ordinary rate. While motorists are likely to experience upward pressure on retail fuel prices over coming weeks, the...
Fair Work Commission Reforms: Will They Really Improve Efficiency?
The Federal Government has announced amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) aimed at improving the efficiency of proceedings before the Fair Work Commission (FWC). The proposed changes will: Allow the FWC to refer general protections dismissal...
Paying Above Award? Why Employee Classification Still Matters
One of the most common misconceptions we hear from employers is, "We're paying well above the Award, so the employee's classification doesn't really matter." While paying above the minimum rate is certainly positive, it's important to remember that...
Leadership Capability: Your Most Underestimated Competitive Advantage.
Most organisations invest in controls - payroll systems to reduce errors; safety procedures to minimise risk; policies to ensure compliance. Managers are trained on legislation and compliance to protect the business. But here's a question worth...
Introducing Molly Ives – HR Officer
A positive workplace culture doesn't happen by chance. It's shaped by the decisions leaders make every day and the way people are supported to do their best work. For Molly Ives, that understanding began long before she started her HR career....
Introducing Terry Snow – HR Officer
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,...
The Beginning of the End for Junior Rates
Employees aged 18, 19 or 20 working in the retail and fast-food industries may currently be paid a minimum award rate equivalent to 70%, 80% or 90% of the applicable adult minimum award rate. On 31 March 2026, the Fair Work Commission (FWC)...
Stop Asking Ai for Answers. Let It Ask You the Questions.
The most useful Ai prompt I use came from a book I read last year, Geoff Woods’ The AI-Driven Leader: Interview me, one question at a time, to extract everything I know about [x] subject before helping me condense and make sense of it all. That...
Thinking About Redundancies? Here’s What Every Employer Should Know
Over the past few months, our team at Focus HR has seen a noticeable increase in enquiries relating to redundancies. Rising operating costs, changing market conditions, reduced workloads and business restructures are leading many employers to...
73% of workplace psychological injury claims are linked to issues leaders influence every day.
One statistic recently stopped me in my tracks. The median time away from work for a serious mental health workers' compensation claim in Australia is now 35.7 working weeks. That's almost nine months away from work. As someone who works with...
Returning to Work After Illness or Injury: Understanding Employer and Employee Responsibilities
When an employee experiences illness or injury, returning to work can be a significant transition for both the employee and the employer. Whether the illness or injury occurred at work or outside of work, a successful return to work process...
Hazing? A thing of the past and a valid reason for dismissal according to the FWC
In a recent application made to the Fair Work Commission, Deputy President Clancy made scathing remarks about a workplace culture which should serve as a stark reminder that old school workplace culture is no longer acceptable. Recently, the Fair...
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