HR Consulting & Advisory

People are the
real work.
We do it well.

Groundwork Consulting partners with agricultural, remote, and regional employers to build workplaces where people stay, grow, and do their best work.

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Our Approach

HR that understands
where you operate.

Most HR advice is written for city offices with 200 staff and a dedicated people team. We work with employers who don't have that luxury. Whether you run a cattle station, a regional construction firm, or a community health service, we bring practical, grounded HR solutions that actually fit your world.

Founded by an HR professional with deep roots in remote and regional Australia, Groundwork was built because the gap was obvious and the need was real.

Complex
IR & representation
Robust
Contracts & policy frameworks
100%
Regional focus
Gretchen, Groundwork Consulting
100%
Regional
specialists

What We Do

Practical HR,
built for the
real world.

No off-the-shelf templates. No advice that doesn't travel past the suburbs. Every engagement is tailored to your industry, your size, and where you actually are.

01

Policy & Compliance

Contracts, handbooks, and HR policies that protect your business and make sense to your team, not just your lawyer.

02

Performance & Culture

Build a culture that travels with your team. Performance frameworks, feedback systems, and the hard conversations, done well.

03

Workplace Issues & IR

Navigate complaints, disciplinary matters, and industrial relations with confidence, even when you're hours from the nearest HR office.

04

HR Audits & Strategy

A clear-eyed look at where your people practices stand today and a roadmap to where they need to be, delivered without jargon.

05

Remote Workforce Solutions

Purpose-built HR frameworks for dispersed and remote teams. Onboarding, communication, and people management that works across distance.

06

HR on Retainer

Your part-time HR Manager. Regular access to expert advice without the overhead of a full-time hire. Perfect for growing teams.

How It Works

From first call to lasting change.

1

Discovery Call

We learn about your operation, your team, and what's keeping you up at night. No forms. Just a conversation.

2

Tailored Proposal

A clear scope of work with realistic timelines and honest pricing. You'll know exactly what you're getting.

3

Groundwork Begins

We get to work. You stay in the loop without being overwhelmed with meetings and check-ins you don't need.

4

Ongoing Support

Delivery is the start, not the end. We stick around to make sure the work actually lands with your people.

Client Stories

What our clients
actually say.

"

Gretchen genuinely understands people and the realities of regional and remote businesses. Having worked closely within both small family businesses and large corporate operations, she understands the challenges around workforce management, communication, compliance and creating positive workplace cultures across busy and diverse teams.

She brings a practical and approachable style to HR, helping businesses put simple, workable systems in place around contracts, policies, onboarding and people management without making things overly complicated.

Professional, down-to-earth and easy to work with, Gretchen has a strong ability to support both leadership teams and staff while helping businesses build well-run, supportive workplaces that work in the real world.

John Sheehan

Agribusiness Manager

HR Health Check

How healthy are your
HR foundations?

Eight quick questions. Instant results. Find out exactly where your business is exposed — and what to do about it.

Get in Touch

Let's talk about
your people.

No obligation. No hard sell. Just a genuine conversation about where you're at and whether we're the right fit. Most clients know by the end of the first call.

Phone
0404 836 636
Email
hello@groundworkaustralia.com.au
Response time
Within one business day

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