HR Introduction to Payroll

Course overview

Payroll is one of the most vital functions within any organisation, ensuring employees are paid correctly and on time while meeting all legal and financial obligations. The Introduction to Payroll course provides participants with foundational knowledge of the Australian payroll landscape, equipping them with essential skills to understand payroll requirements, interpret employment instruments and manage compliance with confidence.

Intended Audience
This course is designed for:

  • HR and finance professionals who engage with payroll but are not yet specialists.

  • New payroll practitioners seeking to build their knowledge and confidence.

  • Business owners or managers wanting to understand their payroll obligations.

  • Delivered: Self-paced

  • Resources: Comprehensive course booklet provided

  • Upon completion: Certificate

  • Members' discounts apply

About the Course
Through a structured and practical format, this course introduces participants to every key component of payroll operations, from understanding what payroll is and why it’s important to the fundamentals of legislation, leave, taxation and superannuation. Each module combines clear explanations with real-world examples and interactive activities to build practical capability.

You will learn

Participants will gain a basic understanding of:

  • The payroll cycle and core payroll obligations.

  • Essential qualities and responsibilities of a payroll professional.

  • The difference between internal payroll procedures and legal requirements.

  • Employment types, pay cycles, and how to calculate employee payments.

  • The Fair Work system, including Modern Awards, Registered Agreements and the National Employment Standards (NES).

  • Taxation, PAYG withholding, payroll tax, superannuation, and fringe benefits tax.

  • Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting and the importance of accurate record keeping.

  • Common payroll terminology and abbreviations used across the industry.

By the end of the course, participants will understand not only how payroll operates but why accuracy and compliance are critical in supporting both the business and its employees.

Upcoming Training Event Dates

Self Paced Learning
Available Anytime
 Virtual Classroom
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Our Trainers

Our trainers are Australia’s leading payroll experts with real world experience and a passion for helping others succeed. They bring clarity, confidence and practical insight to every session, turning complex payroll topics into learning that truly sticks.

Louise Missen

Head of Member Services

Jacqueline Carceller

Payroll Consultant

Maria Nikoletatos

Senior Compliance Consultant

Louise Missen

Like most payroll professionals, Louise fell into the payroll world many moons ago, almost by mistake. She now has over fifteen years’ experience in Australian payroll, working for a number of great Australian brands in different industries. With all this knowledge Louise now focuses on training and supporting our members and students to grow their payroll knowledge.

Away from the office, Louise can often be found spending time with family and friends. She lives by the quote ‘Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you’  by Misty Copeland.

Jacqueline Carceller

Jacqueline brings calm, capability, and a touch of creative flair to everything she does. By day, she’s known for her sharp attention to detail and payroll knowledge. By night, you’ll find her curled up with a good book, proving that quiet achievers often run the world.

Her dog, Calvin, self appointed CEO of the household,  keeps operations in check, while her macramé creations add a little handmade charm to her downtime. If there’s a gathering, Jacqueline’s legendary grazing boards could make even a MasterChef contestant weep with envy. She’s proof that precision and creativity can be the perfect match.

Maria Nikoletatos

Maria was APA’s very first employee, and to this day, she’s still the most entertaining. Known affectionately as our resident payroll nerd, Maria has an unmatched passion for getting payroll right. She’s the person who actually enjoys reading payroll legislation in her spare time (yes, really) and her reputation for razor sharp knowledge is legendary.

As one of APA’s most enthusiastic trainers and our living, breathing knowledge base, Maria is the go to for even the trickiest payroll questions. If she doesn’t know the answer… well, no one does.