Community work the ‘something more’ for our people
With around 900 internal employees in more than 40 offices across Australia, PeopleIN and its family of brands have deep connections to communities across the country.
Recruitment is a business built on relationships. It attracts people who enjoy working with others to solve talent solutions challenges and to find the right people for the right roles. People with these strengths are often also attracted to helping others in their own lives too – here are just a couple of stories about how our people invest their hearts and minds in the communities in which they live.
For Natalie Morris, Operations Manager for PeopleIN’s nursing agency First Choice Care, every day she works with organisations and people whose primary focus is caring for others, so it seemed a natural progression to extend this focus to her life outside of her work. A local to the Redlands region in southeast Queensland, she was looking for a way to give back to her community.
“While I enjoy connecting clients and candidates through my work with First Choice Care, a couple of years ago I realised I needed something more” Natalie said.
“That’s when I discovered Night Ninjas and became a volunteer. We provide hot meals to displaced people who may be sleeping on the streets or living on the poverty line.
But its more than meals and supplies - we also share a friendly chat with these members of my community and it’s opened my eyes in so many ways.
“It was wonderful to know him for three years in Australia, and then for me to visit and see what he’s been able to achieve.”
Rebecca says it’s stories like Pattson’s which highlight how the PALM Scheme can have lasting impact on the lives of participants. She and her fellow onsite managers highlight the opportunity to new workers when they arrive and impress on them how their attitude to work determines opportunities for future participants.
“We tell them they’re representing their country and their attitude and commitment to work creates a reputation which determines the opportunity for others from their country,” she said.
“These people, some are families with small children, are often there simply through a change in circumstances that profoundly impacted their lives - something that could happen to anyone.”
Established in 2015, Night Ninjas focuses on helping people experiencing homelessness. Providing hot meals, food hampers and supplies (like clothing, tents, toiletries, wet weather gear and more) to people who otherwise would go without these very basics needs.
Natalie says it’s been a deeply rewarding experience to be part of such an important cause. She’s recently joined Night Ninjas grants committee where she expects her business skills from her work at First Choice Care will prove pivotal in securing funding for the Night Ninjas, ensuring the team can continue to support the community’s most at need members.
On the Sunshine Coast it’s a similar story for branch manager Steve Hunter and his team at our labour solutions business AWX.
A father of five, Steve knows the teenage years can be tough and, as a seasoned surf life saver, he also understands the therapeutic benefits of the ocean. So, when he was invited to be involved with Salty Souls, a charity collaborating with youth and family service groups and schools to provide surf therapy programs for kids and teens, he jumped at the chance.
“It’s a chance to get involved with children who’ve had a rough start in life and have a meaningful and positive impact on their development – it’s an awesome gift to be able to give. The fact it involves more time in the ocean at the weekend is a bonus!”
At PeopleIN we’re immensely proud Natalie and Steve choose to work for us. They, and others in our businesses, gain purpose and fulfillment from making a meaningful difference in the communities in which they’ve made their homes. And it’s this connection to people and desire to improve opportunities for others, whether that be a new job or simply to help feed a family, that sees us together put the “people in PeopleIN”.
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