About the role

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the People, Legal & Compliance Manager is a broad, hands-on role supporting Fernwood’s people, legal and regulatory compliance requirements across the National Support Office and broader Fernwood network.

The role combines practical HR and workplace relations support with responsibility across legal and regulatory matters, corporate policies, privacy, payroll compliance, HR and payroll systems, workers compensation and WorkCover, trademarks and intellectual property.

Working closely with Payroll, Finance, Operations and external advisers, you will take ownership of matters within your capability, coordinate specialist advice where required, and help ensure Fernwood’s people, legal and compliance obligations are effectively managed.

Part-time | 20 hours per week | Richmond, VIC
$90,000–$110,000 + super (FTE), pro rata

Key responsibilities

- Provide practical HR and workplace relations advice to managers, including support with performance management, employee relations, grievances and workplace matters.

- Maintain employment documentation, workplace and corporate policies and support compliance with employment legislation and Modern Awards.

- Support managers and Payroll across recruitment, onboarding, employee changes and offboarding, providing HR guidance and ensuring appropriate processes and approvals are followed.

- Oversee and support Fernwood’s HR and payroll systems, working with Payroll and Finance to improve processes, controls, configuration and system capability.

- Coordinate and oversee periodic payroll compliance audits and ensure identified issues and recommendations are appropriately addressed.

- Manage and coordinate day-to-day legal and regulatory compliance matters, including applications, submissions,



key dates and correspondence with regulators and external advisers.

- Support Fernwood’s regulatory obligations associated with its women-only operating model, including exemption applications, regulatory requirements, member complaints and club enquiries.

- Maintain and review Fernwood’s privacy and information-handling requirements and support privacy-related enquiries and compliance matters.

- Maintain oversight of workers compensation and WorkCover arrangements, including reviewing premiums, classifications and opportunities to improve arrangements and manage costs, while working with Payroll on administration and annual lodgements.

- Coordinate Fernwood’s trademark portfolio, applications and renewals, managing routine matters internally where appropriate and engaging specialist trademark advisers when required.

- Manage relationships with external legal, HR, compliance and system providers, with a focus on effective service, appropriate use of specialist expertise and cost management.

- Identify legal, people and compliance risks and opportunities to improve processes, controls and ways of working.

About you

You will be a practical, commercially minded professional who is comfortable working across a broad range of people, legal and compliance matters. You don't need to be an expert in every area, but you will be confident researching unfamiliar matters, taking ownership and knowing when specialist advice is required.





- Relevant qualification in Human Resources, Employment Relations, Law, Business, Compliance or a related discipline, and/or equivalent experience.

- At least 3 years’ experience in HR, workplace relations, employment law, compliance or a similarly broad business role.

- Strong working knowledge of Australian employment law, workplace relations and contemporary HR practices.

- Experience interpreting legislation, regulations, contracts and complex documentation and translating requirements into practical actions.

- Experience developing and maintaining policies, procedures, employment documentation and compliance processes.

- Experience with HR and payroll systems, with the aptitude to understand system configuration, workflows and process controls.

- Strong organisational and project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple matters, deadlines and stakeholders through to completion.

- Confidence working with external lawyers, advisers, regulators and service providers.

- Proactive, inquisitive and solutions-focused, with a willingness to investigate matters and build knowledge rather than automatically relying on external providers.

- High level of judgement, integrity and discretion when dealing with confidential employee, legal and commercially sensitive information.

About Fernwood

Fernwood Women’s Health Clubs is an established Australian health and fitness brand operating across a national franchise network.

Based at our National Support Office in Richmond, this role provides an opportunity to work across a diverse range of people, legal, systems and compliance matters in a hands-on setting, with direct exposure to senior leadership and the broader Fernwood network.

📌 People, Legal & Compliance Manager (Richmond)
🏢 Fernwood Fitness
📍 Richmond