Employee Relations Helpline
We’re here to help you manage your employee relations needs. Our experienced and trusted specialists provide practical, timely advice on employment laws, the awards system and other human resources matters. We’re in your corner.
CCIWA’s Members have unlimited access to our Employee Relations Helpline
About Our Employee Relations Helpline
As a Member, you have unlimited access to our Employee Relations Helpline.
We have some of the most qualified employment relations experts in Australia. They are available via our Employee Relations Helpline to answer your queries between:
Monday – Thursday 8am – 5pm
Friday 8am – 4pm
Contact our helpline direct on 08 9365 7660.
New Workplace Laws
New industrial relations laws affect WA businesses. Be prepared to meet the requirements for the upcoming deadlines.
Meet Our Team
Chris Nunn
Manager, HR & Workplace Relations Consultancy
Erin McStravick
Senior Employee Relations
Abbie Smith
Employee Relations
Antaya Adebahr-Strahan
Employee Relations Advisor
Ella Dunn
Employee Relations
Chris Nunn
Manager, HR & Workplace Relations Consultancy
Chris Nunn is the Manger of CCIWA’s HR & Workplace Relations Consultancy and Employee Relations Helpline. He holds post graduate qualifications in HR/ER from the University of Western Australia and is a certified trainer and assessor with a diploma in business management.
After commencing at CCIWA early 2019 in the ER Advice Centre as an Advisor he later moved across to the Workplace Relations team and launched the Chambers new training, eLearning and HR consulting services. As an experienced ER/HR practitioner, consultant, learning designer and business advisor, with an extensive background working alongside clients right around Australia, Chris and his team at CCIWA stand ready to support you and your business.
Erin McStravick
Senior Employee Relations
Erin joins us as a Senior Employee Relations Adviser. She holds a Bachelor’s degree, majoring in Human Resources Management and Management.
Erin has experience across the transportation and engineering consultancy sectors. Her background includes working within bulk haulage operations, where she gained valuable site-based experience, as well as providing generalist HR support within an engineering consultancy, contributing to both local and international projects.
Erin is here to support members with their people management and workplace compliance needs, providing practical advice and guidance to help navigate workplace challenges with confidence.
Abbie Smith
Employee Relations
Abbie joined CCIWA in 2024 as an Employee Relations Advisor and holds a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Human Resources and Psychology from the University of Western Australia. Prior to joining the Chamber, she has held roles in the not-for-profit, construction and social and community services sectors.
Since joining the Helpline team, Abbie has been providing members with strong technical advice through the interpretation and application of industrial instruments. Abbie also regularly facilitates both public and bespoke training courses for members and thoroughly enjoys educating others on the importance of compliance and best practice in relation to human
Antaya Adebahr-Strahan
Employee Relations Advisor
Antaya joined CCIWA in 2026 as an Employee Relations Adviser. Before commencing a career in human resources and industrial relations, Antaya served as a Police Officer while completing a Master of Human Resource Management.
Prior to joining CCIWA, Antaya worked as an Industrial Relations Adviser, developing expertise in the interpretation and application of workplace legislation, awards and enterprise agreements.
Since joining the Employee Relations team, Antaya has been supporting members across a broad range of workplace matters, including employment law compliance, industrial relations, performance management and award interpretation. Antaya is passionate about providing practical, commercially focused advice that helps employers navigate workplace challenges with confidence.
Ella Dunn
Employee Relations
Ella is an Employee Relations Adviser within CCIWA’s Employee Relations Helpline, providing practical advice to members on a range of employment and workplace relations matters. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Human Resource Management from the University of Western Australia.
Prior to joining the Chamber, she held a HR role within the recruitment sector, supporting the employment lifecycle and gaining experience across employee relations and workplace compliance throughout Australasia. She enjoys supporting members through organisational challenges and achieving positive outcomes for their businesses and employees.
Our Employee Relations Advice Services
In WA there are two industrial relations systems governed by different legislation that include minimum employee entitlements. It can be difficult to know what they are and how they apply. We can assist you to understand these, including but not limited to:
- National Employment Standards
- State Minimum Conditions of Employment
Australia has more than 100 industry and occupation awards that cover most people who are employed. The awards system can be complex to navigate. We can assist you with:
- Award coverage
- Wages
- Award interpretation
- Public holidays
- Overtime payments
- Overtime shift penalties
- Casual employees
Redundancy happens when a business no longer requires a particular role. Redundancy generally arises out of an employer’s decision to implement significant change in their business due to a shift in operational requirements, such as a restructure, closure or expansion, or reducing costs.
Not sure of your obligations in the national system in relation to redundancy? Our employee relations experts can support you with:
- Downturn in work
- Consultation process
- Strategies, including potential alternatives
- Entitlements
- Transfer of business
Planning workforce changes? Our guide to redundancy obligations and payouts for employers explains when a redundancy is genuine, how entitlements are calculated and the risks of getting it wrong.
Employment can be terminated by either the employer or the employee. It’s important to follow the right procedure before ending someone’s employment.
Our employee relations specialists can help ensure you follow the correct process and meet your obligations when terminating an employment relationship, including in relation to:
- Underperformance
- Long-term personal leave absences
- Misconduct vs serious misconduct
- Summary dismissal
- Termination entitlements
- Dismissal process dos and don’ts
- Avoiding general protection claims
- Avoiding unfair dismissal claims
The National Employment Standards (NES) and the Minimum Conditions of Employment set the minimum leave entitlements for employees in WA. However, an award or registered/enterprise agreement can provide for other leave entitlements in addition to what is in these.
Our employee relations experts can assist you with:
- Annual, personal and compassionate leave
- Family and domestic violence leave
- Full-time, part-time and casuals
- Long service leave
- Parental leave
- Community service leave
- Public holidays and cultural or religious holidays
Industrial awards set the legal minimum wage in Western Australia. They also provide minimum terms and conditions for employees who are covered by an applicable award.
Paying the correct award rate, including casual pay rates and overtime rates, is critical as underpayments can accumulate quickly and, if left unchecked, can significantly impact your business’ bottom line. Ensuring your business complies with the relevant award terms and conditions is critical to ensuring fair treatment of your workers and avoiding costly underpayment claims and significant fines. Serious contraventions carry penalties payable of up to $187,800 for individuals or $939,000 for body corporates, and punishment for criminal offences can include a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $1.565 million for individuals, or up to $7.825m for body corporates.
Our Industrial Award Subscription Service includes:
- A complete copy of the relevant award
- A comprehensive, easy-to-use Wage Schedule
- Important email updates following an award amendment, including a Schedule of Amendments
- If you require access to more than one award or need written advice regarding which awards cover your business and employees, we can help with this too.
Member price: $120 per annum
Standard price: $150 per annum
(GST exclusive)
Set up an Award Subscription
Human Resources Consulting
Where HR issues can’t be resolved over the phone, Members have access to our Human Resources Consulting Service which provides a variety of HR services for businesses of all sizes, from on-boarding and employee induction processes to temporary HR secondments.
Our client-centric team has diverse industry experience in providing HR support to the WA business community to ensure a productive, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our people skills, practical knowledge, and operational expertise enable us to offer a wide range of services and practical advice that will ensure fair treatment of the WA workforce and help your business succeed.
We work individually with each client to develop a comprehensive understanding of your industry and work with you to develop practical solutions to resolve the root causes of your workplace issue.
We offer a variety of HR services for businesses of all sizes. Our practical advice ensures fair treatment of the WA workforce to help your business succeed. We can support you with:
- Respect@Work compliance
- IR reform policy support
- General policy review and drafting
- Redundancy processes
- Disciplinary action processes
- Onboarding and induction
- Wage audits
- Award allocations
- HR audits
- Training audits
- Diversity and inclusion support
- HR secondments and retainer arrangements
- Outsourced HR services
- Management support
- Workplace mental health
Employee Relations Information Sheets
Our Employee Relations Information Sheets are available exclusively to CCIWA Members. If you are having trouble accessing them or are interested in becoming a Member to gain access, please contact our Membership team at [email protected] or on 1300 422 492.
Please call our Employee Relations Helpline on 08 9365 7660 for tailored advice from one of our expert advisers.
Minimum Entitlements
Our information sheets explain the minimum employee entitlements in Australia. Please note that your employees may be entitled to more than what is listed on these. This is dependent on what specific instruments cover those employees.<!– Please call our Employee Relations Helpline on 08 9365 7660 for tailored advice from one of our expert advisers.–>
picture_as_pdf Annual Leave Under the National Employment Standards download
picture_as_pdf Are you a National System Employer download
picture_as_pdf Casual employees and their entitlements download
picture_as_pdf Community Services Leave Under the National Employment Standards download
picture_as_pdf Long Service Leave – National System Employers download
picture_as_pdf Modern Awards download
picture_as_pdf National Employment Standards download
picture_as_pdf Parental Leave download
picture_as_pdf Personal Carer’s Compassionate and Family & Domestic Violence Leave Under the National Employment Standards download
picture_as_pdf Public Holidays – National System Employer download
picture_as_pdf Redundancy – What are Employers’ Obligations in the National System download
picture_as_pdf Transfer of Business – National System Employers download
picture_as_pdf What Needs to be Included in an Employee’s Final Pay download
Employee Management
These information sheets explain the best practice ways of managing your employees. Please note that these may be different from your internal policies and procedures.<!– Please call our Employee Relations Helpline on 08 9365 7660 for tailored advice from one of our expert advisers.–>
picture_as_pdf Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace download
picture_as_pdf Abandonment of Employment download
picture_as_pdf Annual Shut Downs download
picture_as_pdf Deductions from an Employee’s Pay for National System Employers download
picture_as_pdf Equal Opportunity – Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in the Workplace download
picture_as_pdf Festive Functions and Work Events download
picture_as_pdf Fixed Term Contracts download
picture_as_pdf Flexible Work Practices download
picture_as_pdf General Protections – National System Employer download
picture_as_pdf Managing Poor Performers and Misconduct download
picture_as_pdf Managing Workplace Absences – National System Employer download
picture_as_pdf Serious Misconduct and Summary Dismissal download
picture_as_pdf Standing Down Employees download
picture_as_pdf Workers Compensation and Injury Management download
picture_as_pdf How to Conduct Workplace Investigations download
Other
The information sheets below cover common employer queries.<!– Please call our Employee Relations Helpline on 08 9365 7660 for tailored advice from one of our expert advisers.–>
picture_as_pdf Enterprise Agreements download
picture_as_pdf Final Payments for Deceased Employees download
picture_as_pdf Independent Contractor or Employee download
picture_as_pdf Right of Entry for Unions to a Workplace National System Employers download
picture_as_pdf Right to Disconnect download
HR Health Check
Our free online HR Health Check-up helps you assess knowledge, policies, and processes across key HR functions like wages, diversity, strategy, and workplace culture. In just ten minutes, this self-rated assessment delivers a comprehensive score and detailed breakdown of your HR performance.
Latest News
WA Premier Roger Cook rules out legislating work-from-home rights, distancing the state from Victoria’s plan to mandate flexible arrangements.
CCIWA’s 2025 Workplace Relations Conference explored leadership, workplace culture, inclusion and IR changes, with insights from experts across sectors and...
WA is reviewing its public holidays, with changes including aligning dates with other states or adding new holidays.
Contact Our Team
Employee Relations Helpline
Telephone: (08) 9365 7660
Email: [email protected]
Alternatively, you can complete this form and one of our employee relations specialists will contact you.
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Acknowledgement of Country
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCIWA) acknowledges the traditional custodians of Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past and present.
