The role of HR has changed
HR now sits at the centre of some of the most complex and high-risk areas of a business, from compliance and conduct to investigations, culture, and governance.
What was once a support function is now closely tied to risk, decision-making, and organisational outcomes. As expectations increase, the systems and support around HR have not always kept pace.
EWS works alongside your business to bring the structure, clarity, and legal expertise needed to manage these responsibilities with confidence.
Explore how EWS can support your business.
We shine within these industries
We pride ourselves on being your dedicated partners in navigating the complex terrain of HR and employment law. We offer a comprehensive range of services to support your business in achieving compliance, resolving disputes, and fostering a harmonious workplace environment.
Cleaning & Waste Services
Civil, Mining, Engineering
IT & Technology
Professional Consultancy Services
Dental and Orthodontic
Clubs & Hospitality
Manufacturers
Labour & Construction
Retail
Environmental
Hair & Beauty
Transportation
Personalised support
We believe in delivering a personal experience that fits your needs. Whether it’s an in-person visit (we’re always happy to come to you), a phone call, or a video meeting, our services are designed to provide expert support without limitations of distance or location.
We understand that every business operates differently, so we tailor our approach to suit you, ensuring seamless communication and practical solutions. Wherever your business is based, EWS is committed to offering flexible, hands-on support that helps your business thrive. Your success is our focus.
Representation
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Human Resources
Workplace Investigations
Decades of Expertise, Proven Results
Scalability and Flexibility: Our business grows with our clients’ businesses. We offer unique retainer packages that grant clients the flexibility to choose and modify the services they need as their business evolves. This model offers both convenience and cost-efficiency, as clients use our services exactly as needed without unnecessary expenditure.
1,381
Employment
contracts
53
Enterprise
agreements
867
Training
workshops
14,266
General HR
advice
We are happy to share our knowledge
Is AI Making Workplace Conflict Worse? Or are we becoming better at documenting conflict than resolving it?
AI has not created workplace conflict, but it may be changing how quickly concerns become formal complaints. Karen Arnold explores how AI can shape the way workplace issues are documented and escalated, and why context, curiosity and early conversation still matter when concerns arise.
Stay Interviews: The Retention Tool Hiding in Plain Sight
By the time an employee resigns, the useful questions often come too late. Stay interviews give employers a way to hear quiet concerns before they become resignations, complaints, disengagement or performance issues. This article explains how to ask better questions, identify retention risk, and turn employee feedback into practical action before the business has fewer options.
Termination Is A Process, Not A Moment – Why the steps before dismissal matter most
A defensible termination does not start with the final meeting. It starts with clear expectations, timely feedback, proper evidence, a genuine opportunity to respond and records that show how and why the decision was made. If those steps are missing, even a reasonable dismissal can become difficult to defend.
Sick of hold music and being transferred?
We offer a dedicated professional for your
business, a single point of contact that understands
your business and needs.
Karen Arnold
Specialises in combining legal insight and HR expertise to steer complex businesses through risk, compliance, and high-stakes growth.
Greg Arnold
Specialises in unfair dismissals, general protections claims, negotiating enterprise agreements and navigating complex workplace disputes. Brings calm, structure and compliance to high-risk issues.
Jane Van Gulik
Specialises in streamlining HR systems and policies, making them practical, compliant and designed to prevent costly headaches.
Peter Norrie
Specialises in award interpretation, payroll compliance, workplace investigations, change management and HR strategy—helping highly regulated industries navigate complexity and stay compliant.
Stephanie Papadopoulos
Specialises in high-stakes workplace matters navigating disputes, litigation, and industrial strategy with sharp legal precision.
Trust is earned
Local Focus and Community Engagement: Our business is deeply embedded in the community. While we focus on serving local clients in the Tweed Shire, Northern Rivers and Southern Gold Coast, we also have clients from the Daintree to Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and New Zealand. Both Greg and Karen actively participate in local business chambers and BNI, and we support local charities with their HR, either pro-bono or at significant discounts. This embeds our business within the community and enhances our local engagement.