ER/IR Unpacked is a monthly podcast from the Australian HR Institute, the trusted home for HR professionals, that helps you to stay ahead of the curve on all things employment and industrial relations. Each episode offers practical and timely tips for the modern HR practitioner.
ER/IR Unpacked
Claim This Podcastby Australian HR Institute
5 episodes
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Podcast Overview
ER/IR Unpacked is a monthly podcast from the Australian HR Institute, the trusted home for HR professionals, that helps you to stay ahead of the curve on all things employment and industrial relations. Each episode offers practical and timely tips for the modern HR practitioner.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
3/16/2026
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Recent Episodes
June 28, 2026
How can you maintain psychosocial safety in performance management?
<p>Performance management season is here. Is fear stopping your leaders from having hard, but necessary, conversations?</p><p>In this episode of ER/IR Unpacked, we strip away the stress to explore how to effectively navigate performance reviews through a psychosocial safety lens.</p><p>We start with a brief ER/IR landscape update from Elisha Middleton, Workplace Relations and Remuneration Lead at Western Power, covering the Fair Work Commission's annual wage review decision, upcoming SCHADS Award restructuring, updates to case management processes via the Building Cooperative Workplaces Bill and Victoria's newly legislated right to work from home.</p><p>Then, host Jonathon Woolfrey FCPHR goes deep with Kate Connors, Chief Mental Health Advisor and executive coach at Elemental Coaching and Psychology. Kate shares proactive strategies to ease manager anxiety, the behavioral balance of high-quality workplace check-ins and how to co-design performance solutions rather than strictly relying on scripted procedures.</p><p>Plus, we tackle the grey areas HR leaders actually face by answering questions from our listeners, focusing on stressful frontline industries, applying trauma-informed practice to performance discussions and balancing economic productivity with psychological safety.</p><p><strong>Further learning:</strong></p><ul><li>Article – How to protect wellbeing through smarter work design: <u><a href="https://bit.ly/4w8dU5s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/4w8dU5s</a></u></li><li>Article – 4 common psychosocial hazards and how to manage them: <u><a href="https://bit.ly/4xLknVT" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/4xLknVT</a></u></li><li>Course – Psychosocial Code of Practice: <u><a href="https://bit.ly/3SwbAH9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/3SwbAH9</a></u></li></ul><br/><p><strong>Resources:</strong></p><ul><li>Guideline – How to have difficult conversations: <u><a href="https://bit.ly/4xOQeVr" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/4xOQeVr</a></u></li><li>Guideline – Reviewing or designing jobs to prevent psychosocial harm: <u><a href="https://bit.ly/4alJq7O" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/4alJq7O</a></u></li></ul><br/><p><strong>Connect:</strong></p><ol><li>Follow <u><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/ahri/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AHRI on LinkedIn.</a></u></li><li>Connect with <u><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathonwoolfrey/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jonathon Woolfrey FCPHR</a></u>, <u><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisha-middleton-7779a415/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Elisha Middleton</a></u> and <u><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-connors-09147228/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kate Connors</a></u>.</li><li>AHRI members can join the <u><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13848256/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AHRI LinkedIn Lounge</a></u> to access bonus content and continue the discussion: <u><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13848256/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13848256/</a></u></li><li>Not yet an <u><a href="https://www.ahri.com.au/ahri-membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AHRI member</a></u>? Join today and access a range of benefits, as well as a passionate community of HR practitioners: <u><a href="https://www.ahri.com.au/ahri-membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.ahri.com.au/ahri-membership</a></u></li></ol><br/>
May 27, 2026
What does HR need to know about the NES review?
<p>Australia’s National Employment Standards are getting their first major comprehensive parliamentary review since being implemented in 2009. A flood of submissions from industry groups, unions and individuals highlights the variety of strong opinions about Australia's industrial landscape.</p><p>In this episode, we kick off with our monthly industrial relations briefing with Amal Cimino CPHR, AHRI’s HR Standards and Capability Development Manager, who talks about the Closing Loopholes review, Federal budget outcomes and more.</p><p>Following this, employment lawyer Lisa Mannering FCPHR joins host Jonathon Woolfrey FCPHR to dissect the highest-stakes items on the table in the upcoming NES review, ranging from the fiercely debated push for five weeks of annual leave to the logistical headaches of casual notice periods and the campaign to force AI into mandatory consultation clauses.</p><p>To wrap things up, we field a few tricky curveballs from our listeners regarding the potential changes to arise from the review.</p><p>Further learning:</p><ul><li>5 changes under consideration in the NES review: <a href="https://www.ahri.com.au/articles/5-changes-under-consideration-in-the-national-employment-standards-review" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.ahri.com.au/articles/5-changes-under-consideration-in-the-national-employment-standards-review</a></li><li>How casual work could evolve as a result of current legislation reviews: <a href="https://www.ahri.com.au/articles/casual-work-legislation-reviews" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.ahri.com.au/articles/casual-work-legislation-reviews</a></li><li>Federal Court judgement: <a href="https://www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Judgments/fca/single/2025/2025fca1092" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Judgments/fca/single/2025/2025fca1092</a></li></ul><br/><p>Resources:</p><ul><li>The Fair Work Commission's Pay and Conditions tool (PACT): <a href="https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/</a></li><li>AHRI HR's Federal Budget briefing: <a href="https://media.licdn.com/dms/document/media/v2/D561FAQEmxldWM7ttYA/feedshare-document-pdf-analyzed/B56Z4gQ4AIKoAY-/0/1778657757607?e=1779926400&v=beta&t=bOw2FwRy6X2ojD4uTt2szDKYUZ-K9qTw_dM-hYToqiQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://media.licdn.com/dms/document/media/v2/D561FAQEmxldWM7ttYA/feedshare-document-pdf-analyzed/B56Z4gQ4AIKoAY-/0/1778657757607?e=1779926400&v=beta&t=bOw2FwRy6X2ojD4uTt2szDKYUZ-K9qTw_dM-hYToqiQ</a></li><li>AHRI's Closing Loopholes draft report: <a href="https://www.dewr.gov.au/download/17619/closing-loopholes-review-draft-report/42732/closing-loopholes-review-draft-report/pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.dewr.gov.au/download/17619/closing-loopholes-review-draft-report/42732/closing-loopholes-review-draft-report/pdf</a></li></ul><br/><p>Connect:</p><p>Follow AHRI on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/ahri/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/ahri/</a></p><p>Connect with Jonathon Woolfrey FCPHR: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathonwoolfrey/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathonwoolfrey/</a></p><p>Connect with Amal Cimino CPHR: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amal-cimino-cphr-6375a376/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/amal-cimino-cphr-6375a376/</a></p><p>Connect with Lisa Mannering FCPHR: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-mannering/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-mannering/</a></p><p>AHRI members can join the AHRI LinkedIn Lounge to access bonus content and continue the discussion: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13848256/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13848256/</a></p><p>Not yet an AHRI member? Join today and access a range of benefits, as well as a passionate community of HR practitioners: <a href="https://www.ahri.com.au/ahri-membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.ahri.com.au/ahri-membership</a></p>
April 29, 2026
Is your business on track to meet WGEA's new goal-setting targets?
<p>The Workplace Gender Equality Agency's (WGEA) new gender goal-setting requirements are now in full effect. Is your business on track to satisfy the new requirements?</p><p>In this episode of ER/IR Unpacked, we strip away the compliance jargon to tackle the strategic reality of gender reporting and target setting in the workplace. Plus, AHRI's HR Standards and Capability Development Manager, Amal Cimino CPHR, offers a quick update on upcoming ER/IR changes on the horizon.</p><p>In our deep dive section, we explore the powerful business case for gender equality with Dr Samone McCurdy, Executive Manager, Insights and Capability at WGEA. We dive into the latest legislative reforms, discuss the new 'menu' of targets for large employers, the importance of board-level transparency and explore how HR can use this data to influence strategy with the C-suite.</p><p>Plus, we answer HR's burning listener questions – from the consequences of missing a target to managing baselines during a major company restructure.</p><p></p><p><strong>Further learning:</strong></p><p>9 common questions about the upcoming Payday superannuation changes: <a href="https://bit.ly/49vpmzh" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/49vpmzh</a></p><p>DEI for HR Practitioners: Introduction to DEI practices course: <a href="https://bit.ly/490Kmhp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/490Kmhp</a></p><p><strong>Resources:</strong></p><p>AHRI's WGEA-approved Remuneration and Pay Equity Policy template (exclusive to AHRI members): <a href="https://bit.ly/4sF0DQJ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/4sF0DQJ</a></p><p>WGEA gender pay gap analysis guide: <a href="https://bit.ly/4ncwvdA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/4ncwvdA</a></p><p><strong>Connect:</strong></p><p>Follow AHRI on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/ahri" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/ahri</a></p><p>Connect with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathonwoolfrey/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jonathon Woolfrey FCPHR</a>; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amal-cimino-cphr-6375a376/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amal Cimino CPHR</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-samone-mccurdy-69a2398/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dr Samone McCurdy.</a></p><p>AHRI members can join the AHRI LinkedIn Lounge to access bonus content and continue the discussion: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13848256/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13848256/</a></p><p>Not yet an AHRI member? Join today and access a range of benefits, as well as a passionate community of HR practitioners: <a href="https://bit.ly/3RlhE4s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/3RlhE4s</a></p>
5 total episodes available
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