Peppermint HR

25/08/2026

One of the questions I was asked during the Conference panel was about the value of promoting from within.

For me, it's about so much more than simply filling a vacancy. Every internal promotion sends a powerful message to your team: "There is a future for you here."

When people can see opportunities to grow, they're more likely to stay, continue developing their skills, and invest in the success of the business.

One thing we've also learnt is that career progression doesn't have to mean moving into people leadership. Some of your best employees are passionate about becoming technical experts, and creating pathways for both leadership and specialist roles helps retain great people who might otherwise look elsewhere.

It's one of the most effective retention strategies I've seen, and one that benefits both your people and your business.

Here's a short clip from my discussion with Maree Porter - Franchise Business Manager. 😊

18/08/2026

One of my favourite moments from the recent Swimart Conference panel was sharing the framework that underpins how I think about good people management.

For me, it always comes back to three things:
💚 Confidence
💚 Clarity
💚 Connection

This clip is about the first pillar: Confidence.💪

Confidence isn't about being an HR expert. It's about knowing the foundations of your business are solid. Your contracts, pay, workplace safety and compliance are all in order, so you can focus on growing your business instead of worrying about what you've missed.

Compliance might not be the most exciting part of running a business, but it's the foundation that gives you the confidence to build everything else.

Does it guarantee nothing will ever go wrong? Of course not. But it does put you in a much stronger position when challenges arise. ✅

14/08/2026

One of the questions I was asked during the recent Swimart Conference panel was about recruitment.

If there's one lesson we've learnt over the past 10 years, it's this: hire for attitude and potential, then invest in developing the skills.

In an industry where experienced talent is hard to find, that mindset has helped us grow .jindalee from a team of 5 to more than 30 people, with many of our best performers having no pool industry experience when they joined.

Here's a short clip from the discussion. I'd love to hear your thoughts - have you built your team on the same principles?

11/08/2026

The last week for me has been all about change, particularly HR’s role within it. 🤔

I kicked off the week by facilitating a Continuous Improvement workshop with the .jindalee team, exploring how we can all play a role in identifying opportunities, challenging how things are done and finding better ways of working. Then, I got to spend three thought-provoking days at the Australian HR Institute National Convention, where change, complexity and uncertainty were all recurring themes.

shared some confronting statistics: the average employee has gone from 2 planned organisational changes in 2018 to 10 per year in 2022. Yet employee support for change has reportedly fallen to just 38%, with only 8% of executives considered effective at leading change.😬

Clearly, change isn’t going away. If anything, volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (good ol' VUCA) are increasingly just part of doing business. So maybe our role in HR isn't to constantly look for ways to remove or minimise it, but to help build businesses that can thrive within it.

Dr Jason Fox challenged us to “relish in the complexity” rather than continually trying to reduce it. So much of HR’s contribution lies in our distinctly human capabilities: leadership, communication, judgement, curiosity, learning and trust. When we create workplaces where people are encouraged to question, contribute, experiment, learn and adapt, we’re not just improving how work gets done. We’re building the organisational muscle we need for change. Challenge accepted!💪

24/07/2026

What an incredible experience it was to speak at the Swimart Conference this week and share the journey we’ve been on at Swimart Jindalee.💙

Looking back over the past decade, one lesson stands out above all else: business growth doesn’t happen by chance… it happens through people.👫

As we’ve grown, I’ve learnt that great HR isn’t about more paperwork or policies. It’s about creating clarity, consistency and trust. Setting clear expectations. Developing great leaders. Having honest conversations. Hiring people who share your values. Investing in their growth. And creating a workplace where people genuinely want to come to work and do their best.

The result? A stronger team, happier customers, and a business that’s been recognised both commercially and across our industry.

I loved sharing the practical people strategies that have made the biggest difference for us and hopefully encouraging other Swimart Franchisees that you don’t have to tackle everything at once. Start with your people. The rest will follow.😊

A huge thank you to our Franchise Business Manager for the opportunity, and to everyone who asked questions and shared their own experiences afterwards. Those conversations are often the most valuable part of the day.

09/07/2026

One simple client comment that really stuck with me recently: “You came highly recommended.”

The interesting part? We had no prior connection, and I still don’t know who made the introduction.🤷‍♀️

It was a timely reminder that our reputation and credibility is built through the work we do every day. So, to everyone who has ever recommended Peppermint HR or connected me with someone in your network... thank you! Your support means more than you probably realise.🥰

09/07/2026

One simple client comment that really stuck with me recently: "You came highly recommended."

The interesting part? We had no prior connection, and I still don't know who made the introduction.🤷‍♀️

It was a timely reminder that our reputation and credibility is built through the work we do every day. So, to everyone who has ever recommended Peppermint HR or connected me with someone in your network... thank you! Your support means more than you probably realise.🥰

09/06/2026

📢 We're recruiting!
Peppermint HR is excited to be supporting Swimart Currimundi with the recruitment of a full-time Retail Assistant.

If you're someone who enjoys helping customers, learning new skills and working as part of a supportive team, this could be a fantastic opportunity. No pool industry experience is required - full training is provided.

✔ Full-time permanent role
✔ Supportive team environment
✔ Ongoing training and development
✔ Sunshine Coast location

Know someone who might be a great fit? We'd love it if you shared this opportunity with your network.

Apply via SEEK or reach out for more information.
https://au.seek.com/job/92601092?tracking=SHR-IOS-SharedJob-anz-1

Looking for more than just a retail job? Join a growing local business with a supportive team and genuine career opportunities. Apply now!

10/04/2026

Hiring full-time HR support isn’t always the best investment for a growing business.

For many Australian SMEs, the real question is: How do we get the HR expertise we need, without carrying the full-time cost?

That’s where fractional HR comes in.

It’s not just “part-time HR.”
It’s experienced, on-demand support embedded into your business - without the full-time cost.

In practice, that might look like:
✔️ 1–2 days per week or month
✔️ A sounding board for leaders and business owners
✔️ Support with hiring, structure and performance
✔️ On-call help for tricky people issues

Instead of paying for a full-time salary, you’re investing in outcomes: the right support, at the right time, with immediate impact.

The result?
Less firefighting. Stronger leadership. Better-performing teams.

Because good HR shouldn’t just support the business - it should actively improve how it performs.

If you’re weighing up the cost vs value of HR support right now, I’m always happy to chat through what this could look like for your business.