People & Culture Officer (0.6 FTE)
Support our people, strengthen our culture, and help us do good work well.
- Location: Hawthorn East
- Employment type: Part-time (0.6 FTE)
- Reports to: Executive General Manager
About The Cairnmillar Institute
The Cairnmillar Institute is a not-for-profit provider of psychological services and higher education, with a 65+ year history of supporting mental health and training the next generation of practitioners. We offer clinics, short courses, vocational training and accredited postgraduate programs in psychology, counselling and psychotherapy.
We’re growing, modernising our systems, and investing in our people and culture – and we’re looking for a capable People & Culture Officer to help us do that well.
Key responsibilities
In this role, you will:
- Be the first point of contact for day-to-day HR queries from staff and managers, providing clear, practical advice within scope.
- Support managers to interpret and apply the Fair Work Act, NES and relevant modern awards in everyday decisions.
- Coordinate HR activities across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, selection, onboarding, contract changes and offboarding.
- Draft, review and issue employment contracts, variation letters and HR correspondence, ensuring accuracy and alignment with awards and policy.
- Work closely with payroll to ensure a smooth and integrated onboarding experience.
- Review and document HR processes, and help design simpler, more user-friendly workflows, forms and templates.
- Maintain accurate employee data in Employment Hero, support staff and managers to use the system, and generate basic HR reports (e.g. headcount, leave, turnover).
- Contribute to the review and implementation of HR policies and procedures, and support HR-related compliance, audit and accreditation activities.
- Support HR projects such as engagement surveys, wellbeing initiatives and staff development activities.
About you
You’re a capable HR generalist who enjoys a mix of advisory work, operations and systems – and you’re ready to move beyond purely transactional HR administration.
You will bring:
- Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Business or a related field, and around 3+ years’ experience in a generalist HR / People & Culture role.
- Demonstrated experience providing practical HR advice to managers and employees on everyday matters (leave, performance, conduct, recruitment, conditions of employment).
- Strong working knowledge of the Fair Work Act, NES and modern awards, and experience applying these in a real workplace context.
- Experience coordinating HR processes across the employee lifecycle and drafting HR documentation (contracts, variations, letters).
- Experience using an HRIS platform (Employment Hero or similar) to support HR processes and reporting.
- High level of digital literacy (Microsoft Office and online systems), strong attention to detail, and excellent planning and organisational skills.
- Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust, manage sensitive information and handle confidential matters discretely.
- A proactive, improvement-focused mindset and alignment with Cairnmillar’s values and purpose in mental health and education.
Application closing date: 15th Feb 2026
To apply:
Attach your CV and a brief statement outlining your interest, relevant skills, and experience to your application.
For detailed responsibilities and requirements, refer to the full Position Description at https://www.cairnmillar.org.au/about/careers-at-cmi/job-search/people-culture-officer/
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. A Police Check and Working with Children Check will be required from the successful applicant as a condition of employment.
Why join Cairnmillar:
- Hybrid work options and supportive environment
- Inclusive and collaborative team culture
- Opportunities for learning and development
- Purpose-driven work in a values-aligned organisation
- Salary packaging options available
