Positive People is your HR Partner

Why us?

Our success comes down to taking the time to understand where your organisation is at and where you want to be. We work alongside you and your team providing pragmatic, hands-on HR assistance in a strategic framework that delivers tangible results and sees you achieve your business goals.

The Positive People story

In a world where small and medium-sized businesses struggled with the complexities of HR, one man saw an opportunity to make a real difference. Alan Pettersen, Positive People Managing Director, was already a seasoned senior HR professional, managing HR amongst the complexities of a unionized corporate environment. In his career he had learned the value of honest, people-centred communication, always delivered with integrity. But it wasn’t just in the boardrooms that he found himself solving HR challenges. Time and again, friends and acquaintances turned to him for advice—at weekend BBQs, casual get-togethers, and every social gathering in between.

It was during these conversations that Alan had his ‘aha’ moment. He realized that for most small to medium sized businesses, HR wasn’t just a headache—it was a mystery. And that each employee was an integral and important contributor to the success or failure of that organisation. A daunting challenge that they often feared but desperately needed to get on top of. They didn’t have the expertise or resources to navigate the legal complexities, policies, and practices that good people management requires. And there was no one to help them.

Alan knew there was a better way.

In 1994, Alan took a bold leap—leaving behind the security of his corporate career to create something entirely new. He founded Positive People HR Consultancy, aiming to demystify HR for these businesses. At a time when consulting and outsourcing were still novel ideas, Alan’s mission was clear: to make HR accessible, straightforward and impactful. With a deep belief that any organization—regardless of size—could thrive with the right HR practices, Alan was determined to share this knowledge.

But his vision didn’t stop at helping businesses—he wanted to transform the very way people worked. After years of burning the candle at both ends in a corporate role, Alan knew there had to be a better way to work. The idea of a flexible, people-first environment was born. Trust, company values, and work-life balance became the foundation of the Positive People culture. The organization thrived on the philosophy of empowering people to create a life that was not only successful but balanced, enjoyable and fulfilling.

Every consultant at Positive People enjoys complete flexibility in their work schedule—because Alan believes that when you love what you do and have the freedom to create your ideal work-life balance, the results speak for themselves. It’s a philosophy that’s helped nurture not only the business but its people, making Positive People HR a true champion for well-being and work satisfaction.

It wasn’t always easy. Back in 1994, armed with nothing but a phone book and relentless determination, Alan began calling business after business, starting with the letter A. The response? Overwhelming. What began as a small consultancy for local businesses quickly snowballed into a thriving HR force.

It was a pivotal moment when Toni Jacka, one of the founding consultants, joined Positive People. Together, Alan and Toni—now the General Manager—put in the hard work and dedication to establish Positive People as a leading outsourced HR solution.

Fast forward to today: Positive People HR has celebrated 30 years of excellence, has a team of 16 experienced HR consultants, and a growing roster of over 300 clients. The mission remains the same: to make HR straightforward, accessible, and transformative for businesses across the board.

Whether establishing a strategic HR framework, navigating employment and compliance challenges, fostering employee engagement, developing leadership, or providing recruitment support, Positive People has shown businesses the incredible power of great people practices—and how they can truly transform an organization.

Alan and his team’s promise is unwavering: HR for everyone. This legacy of positive change has impacted businesses and employees alike—and it’s just the beginning.

For Positive People HR, the journey continues—because when you put people first, anything is possible.