19/12/2011
Hundreds of companies talk about helping the community by supporting disadvantaged, disabled or long-term unemployed workers. However, far fewer companies actually manage to make a real difference, and that’s why the success of the Australian Container Unloading Group, or ACUG, is such a great story. By working closely with atWork , ACUG has managed to turn their desire to diversify their employment pool into reality.
A recent example of this is the story of Glenn Groos. Glen was initially placed in the wrong Job Services Stream for him, Stream 1. Natasha Westphal, an atWork Work Placement Consultant, picked this up after being concerned about Glen’s lack of success in the job market. Natasha could see that Glen needed the additional support he would receive from being in a different stream and acted quickly to do something about it. Glen was referred to the atWork in-house psychologist for an assessment and was subsequently re-categorised as Stream 4.
Glenn continued to work with Natasha and with as his Employment Consultant. Natasha Westphal was promoting Glen directly to atWork’s large network of trusted employers, a strategy that has been very successful.
Pretty soon, Natasha Westphal met Carole Watson, WA State Manager of Australian Container Unloading Group. Carole and Natasha had a series of in-depth meetings about what ACUG was trying to achieve and how they wanted to support the community as their business grew.
Following this, Carole agreed to meet with Glenn Groos. On the surface of things, to give Glen a chance would have seemed a bit risky. After all, he had been out of work for nearly one-and-a-half years and did not exactly seem enthusiastic about the opportunity. It took a progressive attitude, faith and intuition but Carole decided to give Glen an opportunity to prove himself.
Glen started learning the ropes at the ACUG, and at the same time atWork carried out regular post placement activities to support and monitor the situation. After just under six months Carole Watson was delighted to report that Glenn was now being promoted to Team Leader, and going onto a full time contract. It was a fantastic result for all, and it just goes to show how people respond when they are given a fair go.
ACUG had similar results recently with indigenous job seeker, Allan Bennell. Allan was another atWork candidate who has found a supportive employer in ACUG, and who after just three months is being rewarded with a full time contract. ACUG have in fact taken on 14 job seekers from atWork , in just the last five months.
All these jobseekers are from different backgrounds and have faced different challenges in their lives. What they all have in common is they needed an open-minded, empathetic employer who will have faith in them and offer them a fair chance. atWork is proud to work with a company that does just this, in ACUG, and we hope to continue our partnership long into the future.