Onboarding & Retention

Supporting new and young employees to settle in, build confidence and succeed at work.

What Is Onboarding & Retention?

Successful employment doesn’t stop once someone accepts the job.

Onboarding is the process of helping a new employee understand their role, workplace and expectations, while giving them the support they need to become a confident member of the team.

Effective onboarding can help employers:

Set clear expectations from the beginning
Help new employees understand their role and responsibilities
Build confidence, connection and workplace capability
Identify and respond to concerns early
Create a positive workplace experience that supports retention

For young people entering the workforce, this support can be particularly important as they adjust to new expectations, responsibilities and ways of working.

Why It Matters on the Redlands Coast?

Attracting employees is only part of the workforce challenge. Supporting people once they enter the workplace is just as important.

Through ongoing engagement with employers and industry across the Redlands Coast, the Redlands Regional Jobs Committee continues to hear about the challenges businesses face in attracting and retaining employees.

Supporting better transitions into work can help employers:

Give young and new employees a stronger start
Build clearer communication and workplace expectations
Develop confident and capable team members
Strengthen employee engagement and retention
Build a stronger, more sustainable local workforce

Onboarding & Retention In Action

Hear from local employers and workforce representatives about what helps young people successfully transition into work and why recruitment is only the beginning.

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Helping Young People Entering The Workforce

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Building Stronger Rentention From Day One

Onboarding & Retention Toolkit

Practical resources to help employers put better onboarding and retention practices into action.

Employer Onboarding & Retention Guide

A practical guide designed to help employers create positive workplace experiences from day one.

From preparing for a new employee’s arrival through to their first 90 days, the guide provides practical strategies to strengthen onboarding, communicate expectations and support new employees as they settle into the workplace.

Employer Onboarding Workbook

A practical handbook employers can provide to new employees to help communicate key workplace information, expectations and responsibilities from the beginning.

Workplace Buddy Checklist

A simple, practical checklist to help employers prepare for a new employee, structure their first days and weeks, and provide consistent support throughout the onboarding process.

Articles & Information

Explore insights, advice, and local stories about how work experience is building stronger pathways from school into the workforce.

Workforce Diversification: Why it Matters in Today’s Economy

Upskilling your employees

Unlock Your Career Potential By finding the perfect mentor

The benefits of utilising apprenticeships and traineeships for your business

Onboarding 101: Set Your New Hire Up for Success

Hire Smarter Build Your Team from the Bottom Up

Getting HR Right: Legal Essentials for Small Business Employers

Fostering Sustainable Employment Practices

First impressions matter

Do’s and Dont’s when advertising your next job vacancy

Useful Links

Practical, reliable resources to help employers welcome new employees, meet their legal obligations and create safe, supportive and inclusive workplaces.

Guide to hiring employees

A comprehensive guide covering workforce planning, employment contracts, work rights, tax, superannuation, safety, discrimination and training.

Hiring employees – Fair Work Small Business Showcase

Straightforward guidance for small businesses on awards, pay rates, information statements, contracts and employer responsibilities.

Fair Work induction checklist

A practical checklist employers can customise to prepare for a new employee and conduct a thorough workplace induction.

Fair Work Ombudsman

Free templates, calculators, online courses, fact sheets and best-practice guides covering pay, leave, awards, performance and workplace obligations.

Onboard new employees

A step-by-step guide covering employment conditions, first-day preparation, induction, workplace safety, training and settling a new employee into the business.

Settlement Services International

Settlement Services International (SSI) supports refugees, migrants and culturally and linguistically diverse communities to build their skills, confidence and employment pathways. SSI has a local presence in Capalaba. Redlands Coast employers are encouraged to contact SSI to discuss their workforce needs and connect with suitable local multicultural candidates. Direct contact: Naseema Mustapha (she/her), Community Engagement & Development Practitioner, Settlement Services International (SSI) M: 0403721907 E: nmustapha@ssi.org.au

Fair Work best-practice guides

Practical guidance covering consultation, flexibility, difficult conversations, managing performance, parental leave and respectful workplaces.

Managing employee performance – Fair Work Ombudsman

Guidance, checklists and templates for setting expectations, giving feedback, supporting improvement and managing performance fairly.

Translating and Interpreting Service – TIS National

Interpreting services that can help employers communicate important workplace, safety and onboarding information clearly.

Workplace Cultural Diversity Tool – Australian Human Rights Commission

Helps organisations assess their cultural-diversity practices and identify opportunities to create a more inclusive workplace.

Fair Work language help

Professionally translated workplace-rights information in more than 30 languages, together with website translation and interpreter options.

Cultural diversity

Practical guidance on recruiting and onboarding multicultural employees, including mentoring, translated materials, cultural adjustments and manager training.

Settlement Services International

Australian Human Rights Commission – Disability resources for employers

Practical tools for accessible recruitment, inclusive induction, workplace accessibility, job customisation and disability inclusion.

Employment Assistance Fund – JobAccess

Information about financial assistance for eligible workplace modifications, equipment, assistive technology and support services.

Reasonable workplace adjustments – JobAccess

Guidance on discussing and implementing adjustments so employees with disability can work safely and effectively. Employment Assistance Fund – JobAccess

JobAccess – Employer resources

Free information and advice for recruiting, onboarding and retaining employees with disability.

Community Resource Unit Ltd – Inclusive Employment Fact Sheets

Accessible resources developed to help young people with disability pursue meaningful employment and assist families, supporters and employers.

Community Resource Unit Ltd – Inclusive Employment Resources

A comprehensive collection covering work goals, thriving at work and employer supports. It includes videos, webinars, fact sheets and templates.

Apprenticeships and traineeships – Queensland Government

Information for employers, apprentices and trainees about getting started, available incentives and support, training arrangements, workplace responsibilities and completing an apprenticeship or traineeship.

Australian Apprenticeships

Information and support for employers, apprentices and trainees throughout recruitment, commencement, training and employment.

Transition to Work

Information about employment support for eligible young people aged 15–24, including pre-employment preparation and post-placement assistance for employers.

Young workers – WorkSafe Queensland

Employer guidance and a young-worker safety toolkit, including the practical “Tell me, show me, watch me” approach to training and induction.

Employing young workers – Fair Work Ombudsman

A best-practice guide covering induction, supervision, communication, workplace rights, safety, study commitments and creating a positive first experience of employment.

Fair Work Information Statements

Information employers must provide to new employees, including additional statements for casual and fixed-term employees where applicable.

Compassionate and bereavement leave

Explains eligibility, payment, notice and evidence requirements. All employees, including new employees and casuals, can access compassionate leave when the relevant criteria are met, although it is unpaid for casual employees.

Pay and Conditions Tool

Helps employers calculate minimum pay rates, allowances, penalty rates and leave entitlements.

Fair Work Ombudsman

Authoritative information about awards, minimum wages, leave, pay, employment conditions and the National Employment Standards.

Safety fundamentals – WorkSafe Queensland

Practical guidance and templates to help small and medium businesses establish effective safety systems.

Safe Work Australia

National information about workplace health and safety duties, risk management, consultation and physical and psychological hazards.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland

Queensland-specific guidance, tools, codes of practice and resources for creating safe workplaces and meeting work health and safety obligations.

Psychosocial Hazards Code of Practice – WorkSafe Queensland

Queensland guidance for identifying and managing work-related psychosocial hazards and risks.

Black Dog Institute – Workplace programs and resources

Evidence-based training and resources for leaders and employees to improve mental-health literacy, psychological safety, resilience and supportive workplace conversations.

Beyond Blue – Work and mental health

Information for employers and employees about mentally healthy work, wellbeing, workplace support and mental-health rights and responsibilities.

Mentally Healthy Workplaces Toolkit – WorkSafe Queensland

Practical tools for employers and managers to prevent psychological harm, promote positive workplace practices, intervene early and support recovery.