FAQsFrequently Asked Questions

Getting started with outsourced HR support

• What are outsourced HR support services?

  Outsourced HR support services give your business access to experienced HR consultants without the cost of hiring a full-time internal HR employee. We help with practical day-to-day people matters including workplace compliance, employee contracts, performance management, policies, leadership support and employee issues. You get experienced HR advice when you need it, while staying focused on running your business.

• What is the difference between Essential HR, Fractional HR and Accelerate?

  Essential HR

  Best for businesses that want ongoing access to experienced HR advice and guidance without needing an internal HR resource. Your dedicated HR Partner gets to know your business and is there when you need help with people matters, compliance questions or employee situations. When you need us to prepare, run or manage a larger HR process, we can provide additional hands-on support at your preferred Essential HR client rate, with the scope and estimated investment agreed upfront.

  Fractional HR

  Ideal for growing businesses that need dedicated HR capacity and more proactive support but are not ready to hire an internal HR manager. Your dedicated HR Partner becomes an extension of your team, proactively progressing agreed people priorities and providing ongoing strategic and operational HR support.

  Accelerate

  Our 3-month people and culture program designed to help businesses build or strengthen their HR and people foundations for sustainable growth. We implement practical HR systems, leadership processes and employee frameworks using our Find, Grow, Keep® methodology.

• How do I know which HR support option is right for my business?

  Many businesses come to us looking for HR consulting support when they are growing quickly, managing people challenges or want more structure around their team. The best option depends on:

  • your team size
  • how often HR issues come up
  • whether you need strategic support or day-to-day advice
  • the level of structure already in place

  We can help you work out the right fit during a short discovery call. Not sure which HR support plan fits? Book a free discovery call.

• What support is included with Essential HR?

  Essential HR gives you ongoing access to an experienced HR Partner who knows your business. You can contact your HR Partner by phone, email or video meeting when you need advice, guidance or a sounding board on an HR or people matter.

  There is no set number of support hours to use each month. Instead, Essential HR is designed to give you practical advice when you need it, so you can confidently manage day-to-day people matters within your business.

  Clients commonly contact their HR Partner for advice about:

  • Which Modern Award applies to a new employee?
  • What steps should we take to manage performance concerns?
  • How should we approach a potential redundancy?
  • An employee has raised a bullying complaint — what should we do next?
  • Do we need to pay a meal allowance in this situation?
  • What happens if an employee refuses to work their notice period?
  • How should we structure KPIs and bonus arrangements?
  • What should we do if an employee becomes sick while on annual leave?
  • A candidate has told us they are pregnant — what are the right next steps?

  Essential HR clients also have access to Ask Amplify HR, our AI-powered HR knowledge assistant, for quick, lower-risk questions, drafting ideas and general people management guidance between conversations with their HR Partner.

  What if I need more hands-on HR support?

  Sometimes you need more than advice. If you would like Amplify HR to prepare, run or manage a larger piece of work — such as recruitment, a formal performance management process, redundancy or workplace investigation — we can work alongside you at your preferred Essential HR client rate.

  We'll agree the scope and provide an estimated investment before the additional work begins, so you know what to expect.

  If your business regularly needs more hands-on or proactive HR support, Fractional HR may offer better value and give you dedicated HR capacity each month.

• How much does outsourced HR cost compared with hiring an internal HR person?

  For many small businesses, outsourced HR is more cost-effective than employing a full-time HR manager. In 2026, a full-time HR Manager in Australia typically costs around:

  	Approximate annual cost
  HR Manager salary	$136,000–$170,000
  Superannuation & on-costs	Additional costs on top of salary
  Total estimated investment	Often $180,000–$200,000+ per year

  By comparison, fractional HR support starts from $1,750 per month, depending on the level of support your business needs. Even at higher support levels, many businesses spend substantially less than the cost of a full-time internal hire while still accessing experienced HR expertise. For a deeper comparison read our guide: Should You Hire an HR Manager or Use Fractional HR?

• What is the difference between outsourced HR and hiring an internal HR manager?

  The right HR support model depends on your business size, growth stage, internal capability and how often people issues are taking up your time. 

  	Fractional / Outsourced HR	Internal HR Manager
  Best for	Growing businesses needing flexible HR support	Larger businesses needing full-time internal HR
  Cost structure	Monthly fixed support fee	Salary + super + leave + recruitment costs
  Experience	Access to broader HR expertise	Depends on one individual
  Flexibility	Scales up or down as you grow	Fixed headcount cost
  Setup speed	Fast to implement	Recruitment can take months
  Strategic support	Yes	Depends on capability
  Day-to-day support	Yes	Yes
  Leadership support	Included	Depends on experience
  Compliance guidance	Included	Depends on capability
  Long-term commitment	Flexible	Permanent employee

  Many businesses start with outsourced or fractional HR support before deciding whether they eventually need an internal HR hire.  Want a deeper comparison? Read our guide to Fractional HR vs Ad Hoc HR Consulting vs Hiring an HR Manager. 

• Is outsourced HR a replacement for an internal HR manager?

  For many businesses with 15–50 employees, yes. We often act as the HR function for businesses that:

  • are growing quickly
  • do not yet need a full-time HR employee
  • want experienced HR support without increasing headcount
  • need extra capability during periods of change

  We can also work alongside your internal HR person to provide additional support, mentoring or project assistance. “Amplify HR feels like an extension of our team. Responsive, knowledgeable and empathetic, an important combination when you’re making key decisions to best support your people and business” - Lachy Gray, Managing Director, Yarno

• How quickly can we get started?

  We will agree on a start date together based on your priorities and urgency. During onboarding, we:

  • learn about your business and team
  • review your current HR setup
  • identify immediate risks or gaps
  • agree on practical priorities

  If you have an urgent employee issue, we can prioritise support quickly.

• How quickly do you respond to HR questions?

  People issues rarely happen at convenient times, so we aim to be responsive and get back to you the same business day. If something is urgent, we will prioritise it and find the quickest way to support you.

• Do you lock businesses into long contracts?

  Our HR plans have a minimum term of 6 months because meaningful people and culture improvements take time. We keep our agreements practical and straightforward, with flexibility as your business grows and changes.

• Do you offer a satisfaction guarantee?

  Yes. We want businesses to feel confident working with us. If you are not satisfied within the first 30 days, let us know and you can exit your agreement without hidden costs or penalties.

Workplace compliance and HR consulting FAQs

• Can you help us stay compliant with Fair Work requirements?

  Yes. We help Australian small businesses understand and manage workplace compliance obligations in practical, everyday language. This can include:

  • employment contracts
  • workplace policies
  • awards and pay obligations
  • leave management
  • performance management
  • employee conduct issues
  • termination processes

  We provide HR advice, not legal advice. If legal support is required, we can refer you to trusted employment lawyers.

• Can you prepare employment contracts and HR documents?

  Yes. We can prepare and update documents such as:

  • employment contracts
  • position descriptions
  • workplace policies
  • performance documentation
  • warning letters
  • onboarding documents
  • employee communication templates

  We focus on practical HR documentation that supports compliance and helps managers lead confidently.

• Can you help with redundancies and restructures?

  Yes. We support businesses through organisational change including restructures, role changes and redundancies. We can help you manage:

  • planning
  • communication
  • consultation requirements
  • documentation
  • manager support
  • employee conversations

  These situations can feel overwhelming, so our role is to help you handle them clearly, fairly and respectfully.

• Can you help managers with performance management?

  Absolutely. Many leaders avoid difficult conversations because they are worried about saying the wrong thing or escalating the situation. We help managers:

  • address issues early
  • set clear expectations
  • document conversations properly
  • improve accountability
  • handle difficult conversations confidently

  Our approach is practical, human and focused on helping people succeed where possible.

• Is our business information kept confidential?

  Yes. Confidentiality is extremely important to us. We work with sensitive employee and business information every day and treat it with care and professionalism.

• Can our employees contact Amplify HR directly?

  Yes, if that suits your business. Some clients want their employees to have direct access to external HR support. Others prefer all communication to go through leadership. We tailor the arrangement to suit your structure and management style.

Working with the Amplify HR team

• What types of businesses do you work with?

  We primarily work with Australian small- and mid-sized businesses with around 15–100 employees. Our clients are often:

  • growing quickly
  • going through change
  • experiencing leadership challenges
  • improving culture and engagement
  • wanting more structure around people management

  We work across a range of industries, including professional services, allied health, disability support, financial services and growing service-based businesses.

• Where are you located?

  We are based in Parramatta, Sydney and support businesses across:

  • Sydney
  • Melbourne
  • Brisbane
  • Canberra
  • regional Australia remotely

  We offer both remote and on-site HR consulting support depending on your location and needs.

• Are you HR consultants or employment lawyers?

  We are experienced HR consultants, not lawyers. Our role is to provide practical HR support, people management advice and workplace guidance for Australian businesses. Where specialist legal advice is needed, we can work alongside your employment lawyer or refer you to trusted legal partners.

• Do you provide legal protection or insurance against employee claims?

  No. While we hold professional indemnity insurance, we do not provide legal insurance or indemnity against employee claims. Our role is to help businesses reduce risk by building strong people practices, handling employee matters properly and supporting managers to make fair, well-informed decisions. We work proactively with clients on areas such as:

  • workplace compliance
  • performance management
  • documentation
  • policies and procedures
  • manager capability
  • difficult conversations

  This helps businesses prevent many common workplace issues before they escalate. If a matter requires specialist legal advice, we can work alongside your employment lawyer or refer you to trusted legal partners when needed. For most small and mid-sized businesses, this approach is more practical and cost-effective than paying ongoing higher fees for bundled legal insurance they may never use.

• Can you work with our existing HR systems?

  Yes. We partner with Employment Hero and can also work with other HR systems, depending on your setup. We help businesses improve:

  • onboarding
  • performance review processes
  • employee records
  • reporting
  • compliance documentation
  • workflow consistency

• What makes Amplify HR different from other HR consulting companies?

  We combine practical HR advice with hands-on implementation support. Many HR consulting companies provide recommendations only. We help businesses actually implement the changes needed to improve culture, leadership, compliance and team performance. Our work is built around our Find, Grow, Keep® methodology, which helps businesses:

  • Find the right people
  • Grow high-performing teams and leaders
  • Keep great employees engaged and committed

  This gives businesses a more practical and connected approach to people and culture, rather than treating HR as a series of disconnected policies or reactive issues. Our approach is:

  • practical and commercially realistic
  • supportive and approachable
  • focused on implementation, not just advice
  • designed for growing small and mid-sized businesses

  “As a growing start-up expanding into Australia, we needed to quickly set up compliant HR foundations. Amplify HR made it seamless. Our HR Consultant has been absolutely amazing, highly knowledgeable, responsive, and a pleasure to work with. She got everything in place while we stayed focused on delivering our product during a busy growth phase. We’ve had a great experience and look forward to continuing working together as we scale and hire again. Highly recommend Amplify HR as a trusted HR partner. “ -Mike Riley, CEO, Agovor

Monthly leadership masterclasses — what to expect

• What are the monthly leadership development workshops?

  Our monthly masterclasses are practical leadership development workshops designed for Australian business owners, managers and team leaders. Sessions focus on real workplace situations and practical leadership skills that managers can apply immediately. Topics can include:

  • difficult conversations
  • leadership communication
  • accountability
  • team performance
  • change management
  • resilience
  • critical thinking

  Request your free invite.

• When are the workshops held?

  Masterclasses are held online at 1pm AEST on the last Tuesday of each month.

  FY26-27 sessions

  Date	Topic
  28 July 2026	Manager Fundamentals: what every people leader needs to know
  25 August 2026	Leading Different Generations and Work Styles
  29 September 2026	Meaningful 1:1s and Career Conversations
  27 October 2026	Building Resilient Teams
  24 November2026	Restructures and Redundancy: handling change fairly and clearly
  23 February 2027	Managing Performance with Confidence
  16 March 2027	Leading Through Uncertainty and Change
  27 April 2027	Coaching for Busy Managers
  25 May 2027	Critical Thinking for Better Decisions
  29 June 2027	Better Conversations at Work

  Request your free invite.

• Who should attend?

  These workshops are ideal for:

  • business owners
  • people leaders
  • new managers
  • emerging leaders

  They are especially valuable for businesses wanting more confident, capable managers.

• Are the workshops included in HR plans?

  Yes. Masterclasses are included for clients on eligible HR support plans. They can also be purchased separately:

  • $199 + GST per attendee per session
  • $1,590 + GST annual pass for 10 sessions

• Are the sessions recorded?

  Our live monthly masterclasses are not recorded. We intentionally keep the sessions live-only to encourage open discussion, questions and participation in a confidential environment. However, clients on our Fractional HR and Accelerate project receive access to a separate library of on-demand recorded masterclasses and leadership resources that can be accessed anytime.

• Are numbers limited?

  Yes. Only a maximum of 3 people per company can attend each session to ensure the masterclasses remain diverse and valuable for everyone.

• How do I get access?

  We will provide you with a link to pre register for the online masterclasses.