Introduction
WEmpower is a NDIS provider supporting people with disabilities. Since acquiring the business in 2023, Divania and her business partner have grown WEmpower from approximately 40 employees to around 140 staff.
With that growth came new challenges around managing people, compliance and employee relations.
The Situation
As WEmpower Services expanded, managing a growing workforce became increasingly complex.
Operating under the SCHADS Award, the business needed support with employee classifications, award interpretation, contracts , policies and employee relations matters. While the organisation had internal HR resources, Divania recognised the value of having specialist expertise available to support the team when more complex workplace issues arose.
The goal was simple: ensure decisions were made confidently, fairly and in the best interests of both the business and its employees.
"We recognised the gap in the business. There were employee relations matters where we weren't the subject matter experts, and that's where Peninsula really supports us."
The Solution
To strengthen its people management capabilities, WEmpower brought Peninsula on board.
With access to Peninsula's workplace relations specialists, Divania gained an experienced HR partner she could rely on for support with both day-to-day workforce challenges and more complex employee matters. As the business continued to grow, Peninsula provided guidance across employee relations, award interpretation and workplace compliance, helping her make informed decisions with confidence.
The partnership proved particularly valuable when Divania needed support managing a disciplinary matter involving a senior employee. With support from Peninsula's Face2Face team, Divania was able to navigate the situation fairly, follow the correct process and achieve the best outcome for both the business and the employee.
Alongside workplace relations support, Divania also implemented BrightHR to improve record-keeping, documentation and internal communications, creating a more structured approach to managing employee information.
"A lot of the time, I can simply pick up the phone and ask Peninsula how to manage a situation rather than spending hours searching through legislation, Fair Work guidance or award information. Having access to subject matter experts gives us confidence that our decisions are sound, factual and compliant."
What Happened Next
Today, WEmpower has a trusted HR partner that understands the business and the unique challenges of operating in the disability care sector.
As a 24/7 service provider, having access to timely workplace relations advice gives the team confidence to manage issues quickly and appropriately whenever they arise. Combined with stronger systems and ongoing specialist guidance, Peninsula has helped the business build a solid foundation for continued growth.
This allows Divania to spend less time worrying about HR complexities and more time focused on supporting clients and communities.
"I would absolutely recommend Peninsula to other businesses. Peninsula adds real value to businesses like ours that aren't fully versed in awards, employee relations and workplace compliance. Managing those areas can be a significant risk for any business, so having Peninsula's support to guide us through workplace matters and help us mitigate those risks has been incredibly valuable."
