Hi Bloom clients, colleagues and friends, welcome to the April edition of Bloom News.
In this edition, we're featuring the career story of Kylie Maidens, CEO of Havelock Housing in Canberra. Kylie’s journey is an inspiring reminder that leadership can come from many paths, and that values, courage and belief in yourself matter just as much as formal credentials.
From next month, we’re back on the road as we head towards the Thrive at Work Summit in Brisbane. We’re really looking forward to reconnecting with clients, partners and peers along the way. As the platinum sponsor, Bloom will be exhibiting at the Summit and I'm also running an interactive workshop titled "From Compliance to Culture: Managing Psychological Hazards in the Workplace." Bloom can offer our subscribers a 20% discount on tickets. Use the link below to get your tickets:
We hope you enjoy this edition of Bloom News, and wish you a wonderful month ahead. Hope to see you in Brisbane!
Warm regards, Natalie and the Bloom HR team
Career Story
Kylie Maidens
Chief Executive Officer at Havelock Housing
For more than four decades, Havelock Housing has played a vital role in supporting people experiencing housing stress across Canberra, delivering safe, affordable homes and services that help individuals and families rebuild stability and dignity.
Under the leadership of CEO Kylie Maidens, the organisation continues to strengthen its service delivery model, culture and operational foundations, with a clear focus on consistency, quality and people‑first leadership across the community housing sector.
Kylie’s story is truly inspiring, and we’re so excited to share it.
It’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when determination, empathy and resilience come together.
We love Kylie’s ethos that life truly begins outside your comfort zone. Thank you, Kylie, for sharing your story and inspiring others to do the same.
We are on countdown now to the Thrive at Work Summit 2026, taking place in Brisbane on 14 May. Full details on the day can be found via Q Shelter's event page here.
As Platinum Partner of the Summit, we're really looking forward to being there in Brisbane to explore strategies in wellbeing, sustainable performance and leadership capability, to build workplaces and cultures where people can truly thrive.
Our team will deliver a session on psychosocial hazards, sharing practical, real-world strategies to strengthen workplace wellbeing and reduce organisational risk.
Sponsored delegate - please nominate!
As part of our partnership with the Summit, we’re excited to offer a sponsored delegate opportunity to a member of the Bloom community. This is a great opportunity for HR professionals to step out of their day‑to‑day role, build capability and confidence, and connect with others across the sector. We’d especially encourage our clients to consider nominating an emerging member of their HR team who would benefit from the experience. To nominate a member of your team, please drop us an email to hello@bloomhr.com.au.
As part of our partnership, we’re also able to offer our network an exclusive 20% discount on tickets via the link below. We would love to see you there!
The SRLA Pilot provides an alternative pathway for employers to sponsor skilled refugees who may not meet standard skilled visa criteria, despite having the skills, experience and capability to make a strong contribution to the Australian workforce. The program has been designed to respond to skills shortages while also creating meaningful, stable employment opportunities.
Eligible employers can enter into a labour agreement with the Australian Government to sponsor approved candidates for specific roles, with built‑in flexibility around English language, skills assessment and work experience requirements. For many organisations, the pilot has offered a practical and values‑aligned way to address workforce needs while supporting social and economic inclusion.
Further details about the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot, including eligibility and application information, can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website.
If you’d like support understanding how this pilot could apply to your organisation, or guidance on next steps before the program closes, please get in touch by calling us on 02 8114 4449 or via the links below:
Rising global conflict and tensions are increasing cyber security risks worldwide, with experts warning of a potential spike in cyberattacks beyond the immediate conflict zone.
Australian small and medium‑sized businesses are being reminded that they can still be exposed to threats such as stolen credentials, system disruptions and weak security settings, even if they are not directly linked to global events.
Regular cyber security reviews and strong cyber hygiene are critical to protecting business systems, data and operations. Check out the article below from MyBusiness NSW and how to access their free Cyber Healthcheck.
Additional public holidays are confirmed for NSW, the ACT and WA this year, due to Anzac Day falling on a weekend. For latest published public holidays, please see the FWA website here. The Fair Work Ombudsman has a comprehensive 20 minute webinar on everything employers need to know about public holiday rules and obligations. You can check it out below.
FWC ends age-based pay disparity for retail, fast food and pharmacy
The Fair Work Commission has announced changes to junior wages under the Retail, Fast Food and Pharmacy Awards. Employees under 21 are currently paid a percentage of the adult rate, the changes will entitle these employees to full adult pay rate after six months.
From 1 July 2026, Payday Super will change how often super is paid.
If you're an employer and haven't started your preparation to get ready for 1 July, now is the time to act. Resources available on the ATO website and video below from our technology partner, Employment Hero.
Uniting Communities signs enforceable undertaking
Uniting Communities Incorporated has agreed to repay more than $2.6 million in underpayments, including interest and superannuation, to around 1,500 current and former employees after entering into an enforceable undertaking with the Fair Work Ombudsman.
AI is becoming widely used across not‑for‑profit workplaces, helping teams save time on tasks such as content creation, research, reporting and data analysis.
However, new research highlights the risk of over‑reliance on AI, warning that excessive 'cognitive offloading' can weaken critical thinking and judgement, skills essential to NFP work.
A recent article from Not For Profit People explores how leaders can model responsible AI use, balancing productivity gains with human insight by setting clear norms, preserving human‑only tasks, and deliberately reinvesting time saved into strategic thinking, relationships and wellbeing.
Hosted by Q Shelter and sponsored by Bloom HR, a full day of workshops, presentations and networking, focused on strengthening workplace resilience, engagement and wellbeing.
Hosted by Infoxchange, a 3 day conference bringing together leaders across technology, community, government, philanthropy and the not-for-profit sector.
25-27 August 2026, Port Macquarie (Birpai Country)
We’re proud to be part of the 2026 AbSec NSW Aboriginal Child & Family Conference as an exhibitor later this year.
This conference brings together practitioners, leaders, and community voices committed to improving outcomes for Aboriginal children, young people, and families. Across three days, the sector will come together for meaningful connection, shared learning, and cultural celebration - grounded in Aboriginal community-led solutions and lived experience.
Our retained recruitment model is designed for roles that matter most to your organisation, combining thorough, high‑quality search with practical HR support to ensure long‑term success.
This approach goes beyond simply filling a vacancy. We partner closely with you to define what success looks like in the role, align on culture and capability, and run a structured, proactive recruitment process that gives you access to the best possible talent, not just those actively on the market.
What sets this offering apart is the inclusion of dedicated HR support throughout the recruitment journey. From role scoping and remuneration benchmarking to interview design and onboarding advice, our HR and Talent teams work alongside you to reduce risk, strengthen decision‑making and support a smooth transition for your new hire.
If you’re looking for a more considered, supported and strategic approach to hiring, we’d love to talk about how this model could work for your organisation
If you'd like to learn more about how we can support you and your team, please contact our CEO, Natalie Carrington on 02 8114 4449 or via the linksbelow.
This month, we’re introducing two of the people behind our talent services - Mahala Warren and Cristal Smith-Quinn, who together deliver our recruitment and talent services.
Mahala Warren — Manager, Talent
Mahala joined Bloom HR in 2022 and leads our talent team, bringing with her a positive and genuine outlook that is felt by clients, candidates and colleagues alike.
Known for her energy, optimism and people‑first approach, Mahala creates experiences that leave candidates and clients feeling supported, confident and valued.
Mahala began her career in HR and recruitment after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Business. Since then, she has worked across a range of industry sectors in both Australia and the UK. Her true passion is in the world of talent and recruitment, where she thrives on connecting people with meaningful career opportunities and helping organisations build strong, aligned teams.
Outside of work, Mahala is busy with her young family and loves to travel whenever she can.
Cristal joined Bloom HR in 2025 and provides support across both our HR and talent functions.
Cristal began her career in youth work, spending five years directly supporting young people before transitioning into recruitment, where she focused on hiring youth workers.
A true HRIS and technology whizz, Cristal plays a vital role in keeping our systems running smoothly and in tip‑top shape.
With a strong eye for detail and a natural affinity for technology, Cristal ensures our platforms, data and processes are set up to support great outcomes for both clients and the Bloom team.
Her calm, capable approach and behind‑the‑scenes expertise make a significant difference to how efficiently and effectively we operate day to day.
In her downtime, Cristal will be keeping up with her two young sons and loves being active through regular gym sessions and soccer.
Bloom HR acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work. We pay our respects to the Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise it always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
