Many growing businesses reach a point where human resources issues consume more of the owner's time than the business itself. Recruitment decisions, performance conversations, compliance obligations, and employee disputes all demand expertise, yet hiring a full-time HR manager in Brisbane costs around $150,000 per year (Hays Salary Guide 2025), before superannuation and on-costs.
Fractional HR gives you senior-level human resources support embedded in your business at a fraction of that cost, without the commitment of a permanent hire. Daniel Holbrook works directly with business owners and business leaders as their dedicated HR function.
Fractional HR means engaging a senior HR professional to operate as part of your leadership team on a part-time, ongoing basis. This is not a one-off project engagement, and it is not a reactive phone call when something goes wrong. Fractional human resources is a structured, senior HR presence embedded in your business, providing continuity, context, and proactive compliance management.
The distinction matters. Task-based HR support is valuable for isolated issues, but it lacks the continuity that prevents problems from recurring. A fractional HR model means Daniel understands your business, your people, your risks, and your goals. That context compounds over time, making every interaction more efficient and every recommendation more targeted. For employers navigating their obligations under the Fair Work Act and WHS legislation, this ongoing relationship provides confidence that HR practices are maintained as the business evolves.
Daniel delivers fractional HR through three retainer tiers, each designed to match a different level of HR need. In practice, the engagement covers the full scope of an internal HR function (compliance reviews, HR policy development, performance management support, payroll queries, employment contracts, leadership coaching, and recruitment coordination). Every plan includes direct phone, email, and video access to Daniel with no lock-in contracts.
Businesses exploring external HR support often encounter both "fractional HR" and "outsourced HR" as options. While both involve engaging an external HR professional rather than hiring internally, the models serve different needs.
Fractional HR is designed for businesses with 10 to 200 or more employees. These are organisations that have grown past the point where the owner can manage HR personally, but not yet to the size where a dedicated full-time HR hire is justified. The HR workload is real, but it does not fill 40 hours every week. What these businesses need is flexible HR support that scales with demand.
Fractional HR support solves this by giving you access to senior HR expertise on a retainer basis. During quieter periods, your fractional HR consultant handles compliance reviews, HR policy updates, and HR advisory work. During busier periods, the same consultant manages onboarding, performance processes, workplace investigations, or restructures. You pay for the level of support your business actually needs, and you can tailor the engagement as your headcount changes.
Common signs that a business needs fractional HR support include:
If you are managing HR challenges internally and finding it unsustainable, a fractional HR engagement can implement the systems, processes, and oversight your business needs to operate confidently. Whether your business operates from a single office or has team members spread across multiple locations Australia-wide, fractional HR adapts to how your team works.
For employers already managing some HR in-house, the ongoing HR support model explains how Daniel integrates with existing operations.
Not sure which retainer plan fits? The HR Health Check is a free self-assessment that flags where your HR risk is highest. Every HR Manager retainer begins with an HR Compliance Audit and the audit fee is fully credited toward your first month of retainer work.
Fractional HR works because the practitioner stays consistent. Two credentials underwrite the work:
Commercial context shapes every retainer engagement. Compliance reviews, performance frameworks, and people-matter advisory are calibrated to the size, sector, and growth stage of the business. The MBA frames every recommendation in your operating reality.
Psychosocial safety literacy across every retainer. Modern HR practice intersects with WHS obligations, the Cert IV WHS underwrites the compliance calendar that anticipates legislative change before it lands on your desk.
Every fractional HR engagement is delivered personally by Daniel. No account manager. No junior. No handoffs.
Read more about Daniel's qualifications and experience on the About page.
“I recently engaged Brookvale HR Solutions, led by Dan and his team, and was thoroughly impressed. Dan combines deep HR expertise with a practical, people-first approach. He provides clear advice and handles complex issues with professionalism and empathy. He's a HR / Safety weapon. 10/10 recommend!”
Common questions on the fractional model, retainer tiers, and getting started.
Fractional HR begins with understanding where your business is today and where the gaps are. Book a free 30-minute call with Daniel to discuss your HR needs and explore which retainer plan fits. Brookvale HR Solutions is based in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, and works with clients across Australia.
