The aim of this paper is to report on current developments in the area of human resource management (HRM) in Australia. The study analyses 1372 on-line responses to a survey of Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) members. Results of the research indicate that although human resources (HR) has strengthened its strategic positioning, HR professionals face several challenges including: the potential narrowing of their career base; the need for improved HRM metrics; and a broader commitment to attraction and retention initiatives. Results also reveal that expectations of a more strategic business focus for HR are developing in the context of an industrial relations climate that has increased HR’s responsibility for employee relations in the workplace. In the face of these complex expectations, Australian HR professionals report positive reactions to the changes that have occurred within the HR function; they remain optimistic about their future and their capacity to manage the shifting ground that HRM occupies.
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