AI consulting for Australian businesses that want it to actually work
You've probably already tried AI. Someone on the team uses ChatGPT for emails. Someone else built a clever spreadsheet with Copilot. A software vendor keeps telling you their new "AI feature" will change everything. And yet, if you're honest, nothing in the business has really changed.
That's normal. It's also where I come in.
I'm Sam Thompson, and Attua is my AI consultancy. I help Australian businesses with roughly 50 to 500 staff work out where AI genuinely fits, put it to work, and get their people confident using it. Not a slide deck that sits in a drawer. Working tools, a team that uses them, and a clear picture of what it's costing and saving you.
Why I do this
I run a business too. Through my production company I've used AI to cut costs, increase output and give my team more time for the work that actually needs a human. I learned most of it the hard way: tools that looked great in a demo and fell over on a Monday morning, subscriptions nobody used, and a few wins that genuinely changed how we work.
So when I sit down with you, I'm not reading from a vendor playbook. I'm telling you what I've seen work in a real business with real deadlines, and what I'd leave alone.
What AI consulting with Attua looks like
Every business is different, but most engagements follow three stages. You can start at any of them.
1. AI strategy: know where to start
We look at how your business actually runs. Where the hours go, which systems you use, what your people are frustrated by, and what you're trying to grow. Then you get a clear roadmap: the handful of things worth doing first, the tools I'd recommend, roughly what they cost, and what I'd ignore for now.
2. AI implementation: put it to work
A roadmap is only useful if something happens next. We agree the scope and fee up front, then I configure or build the system with you, test it with the people who'll use it, and hand it over properly. Ongoing support is agreed before you commit, so there are no surprises.
Read more about AI implementation
3. Team training: make it stick
The biggest reason AI projects fail isn't the technology. It's that people don't trust it, don't know when to use it, or don't know when to question it. I run practical sessions built around your team's real work, so they leave knowing exactly how AI helps them on Tuesday afternoon.
Read more about AI training for teams
Who Attua is for
Attua works best with businesses that are big enough to have real, repeatable workflows, and small enough that the owner or leadership team still feels the pain of them. Typically that's 50 to 500 staff.
That includes:
- Multi-site hospitality groups. Cafes, restaurants and venues juggling rosters, ordering, reviews and marketing across several locations. See AI for hospitality
- Professional services firms where documents, proposals and follow-ups eat the week.
- Growing operators whose spreadsheets have quietly become the operating system of the business.
- Churches and not-for-profits that want to do more with small teams and tight budgets.
If you're a five-person business, I'm probably not the right fit for a full engagement, but the cost guide and FAQ will still help you get started.
What makes Attua different
There are plenty of AI consultancies in Australia. Here's what I do differently.
I'm the person you work with. You don't get a senior partner on the sales call and a junior on the project. You get me.
I'm vendor neutral. I don't earn commission on software. If ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, Gemini or a simple automation is the right answer, that's what I'll recommend. If the honest answer is "don't spend money on this yet", I'll say that too.
Human craft, machine assist. AI should take the repetitive load off your people, not replace their judgement or their voice. Everything I set up keeps a person in control of the decisions that matter.
Scoped up front. You'll know what you're getting and what it costs before we start.
How we keep your data safe
AI raises fair questions about privacy. Before any tool touches your data, we agree what can be used, where it can go and what stays out of scope. I'll recommend business plans with appropriate data controls over free consumer tools, set up permissions so people only access what they need, and write simple usage guidelines your managers can actually enforce. Where Australian privacy obligations apply, we design around them from day one.
Where I work
I'm based in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, so I regularly work in person across the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. For businesses in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and everywhere else, most of the work happens remotely, with in-person workshops when they make a real difference.
As featured in
7NEWS, Sunrise and news.com.au. See the coverage
The first step
Book a 30 minute call. Tell me what's going on in your business, what you've tried, and what's annoying you. I'll tell you honestly whether AI can help, where I'd start, and whether Attua is the right fit. No pitch deck, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
What does an AI consultant actually do?
An AI consultant looks at how your business works, finds the places where AI will genuinely save time or money, helps you choose and set up the right tools, and trains your team to use them well. At Attua that covers strategy, implementation and training.
Do I need an AI consultant, or can my team just figure it out?
Plenty of teams can get started on their own. Where a consultant helps is avoiding expensive dead ends, picking tools that suit how you already work, and getting the whole team using AI consistently rather than a few enthusiasts doing their own thing.
How much does AI consulting cost in Australia?
It depends on scope. A strategy engagement is usually the smallest piece and implementation varies with what's being built. Every engagement is scoped up front, so you know the cost before we start. Read the full AI consulting cost guide.
How long until we see results?
It depends on what we're tackling first. The timeline is agreed with you up front.
Do you work outside Queensland?
Yes. Attua works with businesses across Australia. In-person work is easiest in South East Queensland, and everything else can be done remotely.
Will AI replace my staff?
That's not the goal of anything I set up. The aim is to take repetitive work off your people so they spend more time on the work that needs their judgement, skill and personality.