Human Resources Adviser

A Human Resources Adviser develops and implements HR policies, programmes and processes within an organisation or across multiple sites. They provide expert guidance on recruitment, workplace relations, employee performance management, training and development, and compliance with Australian employment law and industrial relations obligations. The role typically operates at a strategic level, supporting senior management and line managers in building effective, compliant, and engaged workforces.

Design and review HR policies and procedures to align with Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and relevant modern awards or enterprise agreements. Develop recruitment strategies, including job descriptions, selection criteria, and interview processes, and manage recruitment workflows from vacancy to offer. Advise on workplace relations matters including disciplinary procedures, termination protocols, and dispute resolution in line with fair work obligations. Conduct or commission workplace culture surveys and analyse results to identify employee engagement, retention, and organisational health trends. Manage performance management systems and frameworks, including setting KPIs, conducting reviews, and providing feedback to managers. Coordinate training needs analysis, identify skill gaps, and recommend or procure learning and development programmes for staff. Ensure compliance with Australian workplace legislation including the Fair Work Act, Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth), and discrimination and equal opportunity laws. Prepare HR reports and analytics on headcount, turnover, recruitment metrics, pay equity, and workforce composition for executive review.

The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

The work is emotionally draining: you handle dismissals, complaints, and workplace conflicts daily. You're often caught between staff and management, pleasing neither. Fair Work laws change constantly, so you're studying forever. And honestly, much of the admin work (data entry, scheduling training, processing forms) is getting automated.

Larger organisations in finance, healthcare, retail and government hire most HR advisers. Regional areas have far fewer roles. Remote work is common for this position, but you'll still need to be based near a major metro to find enough opportunities. Employment is clearly metro-heavy.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2231, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Active Listeningcore
• Award Interpretationcore
• Confidentiality and Privacy Compliancecore
• Conflict Resolutioncore
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligencecore
• Leave Managementcore
• Onboarding Supportcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Policy Interpretationcore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
• Inclusive Practice
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
• Negotiation
• Process Improvement Identification
• Record Management
• Research and Analysis
• Risk Identification
• WorkCover Administration
• Workload Self-Management

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

What Human Resources Adviser workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026