Melissa Hay
Mount Eliza,VIC
Summary
HR Professional with over 25 years experience Strengths: Change Management, Employee Relations/Industrial Relations, OH&S, Return to Work Management, Learning and Development (design and delivery) Recruitment and Selection, Issue Management, Coaching and People Management. As a client focused and collaborative HR Practitioner, I have worked across the following industries: Small Business including Automotive Manufacturing, Car Dealerships, NDIS Providers and Retail and other Franchise Businesses; Cemetery Industry; State Government Authority; Not for Profit Charitable Organisation; Residential Aged Care; Disability Services; Community Service Programs such as Home Care; Local Government [Council] including Depot Operations, Library Services, Community Services – Aged Care, Family & Children's Services, Corporate Management, Leisure & Recreation Centres and Engineering & Infrastructure; Telecommunications;
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Executive Manager People Capability and Services
Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT)
11.2022 - Current
- Company Overview: With 11 cemeteries within the south eastern corridor of Melbourne, SMCT provides services from burials, cremations, chapel services and wakes for the purpose of honoring and celebrating the lives of those who have passed. SMCT employs 400 staff including gravediggers/burials staff, horticulture hands, maintenance workers, customer service, infrastructure project managers, corporate and administrative staff.
- Leading a team of 7 HR staff
- Providing coaching and mentoring to managers and leaders
- Undertaking workforce planning activities including succession planning
- Leading SMCT through 2 x Enterprise Agreement Negotiations
- Undertaking complex IR case management and providing expertise to team
- Contributing to 3 year strategic pillars for “People Strategy”
- Supporting implementation of new HRIS - Dayforce
- Position held: People Services & Experience Manager
- Duties:
- Leading a team of 4 staff
- Undertaking complex case management including conduct investigations
- Critical review and updates of policies and procedures
- Annual Remuneration Cycle Review and Increase for Common Law
HR Specialist
HR Central Pty Ltd
01.2021 - 11.2022
- Company Overview: Australian owned and operated HR Consulting firm specialising in providing people solutions to small and medium sized business.
- Respond to operational and strategic HR needs of clients
- Consult and provide recommendations and advice directly to range of clients
- Providing online coaching and advice to employers on managing complex people issues
- As part of a wider team deliver improvement opportunities for the benefit of clients
- Write articles, news items and blog items on a monthly basis
HR Manager
Mackay Consolidated Industries
04.2017 - 08.2017
- Company Overview: A small to medium sized Manufacturing company that employed over 150 people. Mackay was going through substantial change with downturn in automotive manufacturing industry and need to diversify into other industries.
- Managed the strategic and operational HR issues for the company
- Reported directly to CEO
- Part of Executive Management Team
- Managed Payroll Officer and Return to Work Coordinator
- Major Achievements:
- Introduced Consultative Committee to improve industrial relations with two major unions
- Implemented redeployment and retraining processes to support transition of employees where roles were being made redundant
HR Co-ordinator
Bass Coast Shire Council
04.2012 - 11.2012
- Company Overview: A regional Council that employed over 300 FTE staff who provided a range of services to the Community including Depot Operations, Home and Community Care, Local Laws, Environment, Infrastructure and Planning, Tourism.
- Managed all IR issues including researching issues for and leading EBA 2012 negotiations;
- Motivated and managed a multidisciplinary team (6 employees) including 2 HR Consultants, Payroll Officer, Learning and Development Officer, HR Administration Officer, HR Graduate/Projects Officer;
- Provided high level coaching to senior managers and managers on range of people issues;
- Developed a strategic forward plan for HR which included automating a number of HR processes.
- Major achievements:
- Successful negotiation of EBA 2012;
- Completed and delivered recommendations to management for 6 different workplace investigations within 7 month time period (ranging from misconduct, bullying and OHS issues)
Principal HR Consultant (Former Title HR Divisional Manager)
WorkSafe Victoria (Victorian WorkCover Authority)
01.2007 - 02.2012
- Company Overview: A State Government Authority with approximately 1200 employees, WorkSafe is the State's regulator on workplace health & safety and also manages the Workcover Insurance Agents who process and manage Workcover claims and collect insurance premiums on behalf of the organisation.
- Managed and guided a team of 8 HR Consultants in delivering a suite of HR Services to the WorkSafe organisation;
- Provided high level coaching to Executive Directors and Senior Leadership Teams;
- Partnered with HR Colleagues and Senior Management to develop and implement strategic initiatives eg Talent & Succession Plans; Retention Strategies; Workforce Planning;
- Provided a high quality HR Service and advice to own client base;
- Consulted and negotiated with union associations on “tool of trade” vehicles and other contentious Industrial agreements;
- Developed and implemented “one organisation” change management and cultural initiatives
- Designed/Delivered People Leader Training Sessions on specific topics eg Managing Challenging Employee Issues, EEO, Recruiting for Success
- Senior HR Consultant (2005 to 2007) WorkSafe Victoria
- Duties:
- Delivered responsive and high quality HR advice and service including recruitment, performance management and improvement, workforce planning and HR Policy and procedure support and EOS Action Planning;
- Identify and develop HR project improvements eg Recruitment;
- Undertake site visits to regional offices and provide HR updates;
- Work on cross HR projects such as development and delivery of People Leaders training.
RTW Manager
RTW Management
08.2004 - 12.2004
- Company Overview: Subcontracting role liaising with employers, insurers and health professionals to facilitate successful return to work outcomes for injured and ill employees. Worked predominantly with manufacturing industries such as carpet makers, office furniture manufacturers and transport companies.
Human Resources Adviser
VILLA MARIA
09.2002 - 07.2004
- Company Overview: A not for profit organisation with a staff of approximately 900, providing specialised services in both aged and disability residential care, day and educational programs for the aged and disabled and a range of other community services. Villa Maria is a Victorian based organisation with over 40 sites distributed throughout Victoria metropolitan and regional areas.
- Provided high level coaching and advice to managers across the business on all HR matters including recruitment, employee and industrial relations, OH&S and employee health and well being;
- Worked alongside managers in identifying HR business priorities and developing and implementing systems and procedures;
- Management of Workcover claims management portfolio including Workcover premium and undertaking return to work co-ordination for injured employees;
- Undertook range of projects in conjunction with Villa Maria's OH&S Committee to improve OH&S performance.
- Major achievements:
- Assisted all residential aged care facilities in improving their OH&S systems and training of staff which resulted in a marked reduction in the severity and number of WorkCover claims lodged. All aged care facilities were able to achieve accreditation as a result;
- Development of OH&S procedures and release of OH&S Resource Kit for Managers in September 2003;
Human Resources Adviser
KINGSTON CITY COUNCIL
12.1997 - 08.2002
- Company Overview: Local government body with equivalent full time staff of approximately 590, delivering range of services for surrounding community including Library Services, Residential Aged Care, Home and Community Care, Recreation and Leisure Services, Environment and Infrastructure and Corporate Services.
- Provision of high level HR advice across business units on recruitment, performance management, training & development, award and policy interpretation, OH&S and employee well being, employee and industrial relations;
- Development of appropriate HR policies and procedures in consultation with Managers and staff;
- Management of Council's WorkCover claims and annual premium including co-ordination of return to work for injured employees;
- Major achievements:
- Major role in assisting Kingston City Council (Community Services) to win their first WorkSafe Award (Best Risk Solution 2002);
- Managing WorkCover claims and premium to obtain approx. $450k refund to Council in 00/01 and 01/02 Financial Years;
- Coordinated and lead project team of staff from within several Council departments to develop Information Kit on Managing Contractor OH&S (included subsequent implementation);
- Significant contribution towards development and implementation of Council's Corporate Induction Program;
- Development and introduction of Council's pre-placement health assessment program;
Human Resources Adviser - Business and Government
TELSTRA CORPORATION LTD
10.1989 - 12.1996
- Company Overview: As Australia's largest telecommunications provider, the Human Resource function was centralised to divisional responsibilities. I was promoted to several different positions within Telstra and within different divisions from Mobile Communications, Business and Government and Residential. I provided Human Resource services to a diverse range of managers and staff including labourers, technicians, engineers, sales and retail shop staff, call centre operations and administration staff.
- Providing a range of HR advice to lines of business on HR Policies, procedures, recruitment and OH&S.
- Formulation of information kits and subsequent training roll out on HR issues for empowerment of line managers eg: Counselling and Disciplinary procedures
- Major achievement:
- Development of comprehensive kit for Line Managers titled “Effective Employment within Telstra” designed to provide strategies for Managers to assist them in managing staff with disabilities and injuries.
Education
Bachelor of Psychology - Social Science
Swinburne University
Melbourne, VICGraduate Diploma in Human Resources Management -
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Melbourne, VICDiploma in Management - Business
Melbourne Business School
Melbourne, VIC01.2008
Skills
- Talent acquisition and development
- Effective team leadership
- Industrial relations expertise
- Complex Issue Resolution
- Organizational change management
- Strategic succession planning
- Strategic workforce planning
- Workforce engagement
- Effective relationship management
- Collaborative decision-making
- Policy formulation and implementation
Accomplishments
Lead and managed several multidisciplinary teams within Human Resources with largest direct reports being ten staff
Successfully negotiated 8 Enterprise Agreements within different industries including local government, manufacturing and current cemetery industry
Resolved multiple complex industrial relation matters
Certification
- Enterprise Leadership Program September 2024 to October 2025
- Mental Health First Aid Training (12 hour program) July 2011
- Hay Leadership Development Program 2006-2007
- EEO Investigations – EEO Commission 2007
- Advanced Certificate in Personnel at RMIT/Bach of HR/IR Management Subjects Completed : Industrial Law, Personnel Practices, Staffing, Core Communications Subjects – Not completed
- Advanced Counselling Skills – Cairnmillar Psychological Institute in 1993
- Targeted Selection Accredited Interviewer (1998) and Administrator (2001) – Development Dimensions International
- Train Small Groups qualification (1999) (Precursor to Certificate in Training and Assessment)
- Various OH&S certifications – Hazardous Substances, OH&S for Managers/Supervisors and mandatory WorkCover 5 day course.
- Advanced Occupational Rehabilitation skills (Canberra TAFE);
Timeline
Executive Manager People Capability and Services
Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT)
11.2022 - Current
HR Specialist
HR Central Pty Ltd
01.2021 - 11.2022
HR Manager
Mackay Consolidated Industries
04.2017 - 08.2017
HR Co-ordinator
Bass Coast Shire Council
04.2012 - 11.2012
Principal HR Consultant (Former Title HR Divisional Manager)
WorkSafe Victoria (Victorian WorkCover Authority)
01.2007 - 02.2012
RTW Manager
RTW Management
08.2004 - 12.2004
Human Resources Adviser
VILLA MARIA
09.2002 - 07.2004
Human Resources Adviser
KINGSTON CITY COUNCIL
12.1997 - 08.2002
Human Resources Adviser - Business and Government
TELSTRA CORPORATION LTD
10.1989 - 12.1996
Bachelor of Psychology - Social Science
Swinburne University
Graduate Diploma in Human Resources Management -
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Diploma in Management - Business
Melbourne Business School
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