About this major

The Human Resource Management and Employment Relations major will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to manage people, promote decent work, and enable organisations to get the best out of their workforces. 

This major covers all aspects of people management, ranging from day-to-day human resource management activities to strategy development and policy analysis. Organisations face many challenges in managing local, global and virtual workforces, including how to best attract, retain, and motivate people; how to foster productive and inclusive organisational cultures; how to support the health, safety and wellbeing of employees; and how to ensure compliance with evolving workplace laws and regulations. 

The major explores practices and perspectives needed to manage people in organisations, drawing on disciplines ranging from organisational behaviour to employment relations. It offers a holistic, interdisciplinary focus on work and employment. This means you will gain a deep understanding of the significance and impact of context in structuring and managing work and workers, including the role of economics, politics, laws, and institutions in shaping the world of work.

Our rigorous curriculum combines theoretical foundations and research-based insights with practical application. You will have the opportunity to engage with leading experts from both academia and industry, including direct interaction with external stakeholders such as Directors of People & Culture and policy makers. 

Our graduates are building more resilient, adaptable, and innovative organisations; are shaping domestic and international work and employment relations policy debates; and are strong advocates for sustainable economic growth and decent work for all. 

Graduates of this major will gain in-demand industry knowledge, skills and capabilities required to work in HR and related professions specifically and will also be able to operate effectively as managers and leaders. This makes the major the ideal choice for anyone who aspires to become an effective people manager, but is of particular relevance to those interested in pursuing a career in human resource management, management consulting, workplace relations, people analytics, public policy, management and any career involving people at work.