2017

R U OK? How to recognise the warning signs

BY: Tracey Mesken04/09/2017

​Hey, R U OK? One in five Australians suffer from Mental Illness every year. Here are some tips to help you recognise the warning signs. Trust your instincts. You might be wrong, but its never a bad thing to let a mate know you are concerned for them.  This blog includes some resources that will guide you through how to ask a mate, R U OK?​Take simple steps. Break down barriers to seeking support, reduce stigma, and be there to listen. WorkPac Employees are encouraged to use our Employee Assistance Program through Gryphon Psychology. Phone: 1800 056 076 or gryphonpsychology.com | Lifeline 13 11 14 | Beyond Blue 1300 22 463How to ask RU OK by Gryphon Psychology.How to ask RU OK from the R U OK website.For team leaders: How to ask staff RU OK when working away from home.Recognise the warning signs.For those of you who do not know, R U OK? is a suicide prevention charity in Australia, reminding people that having meaningful conversations with mates and loved ones could save livesSuicide prevention is a complex and sensitive issue, thankfully R U OK gives us some common language and a starting point. Quite simply the power of asking that one simple question may make a world of difference to that one person you ask. It may help them stay connected and show them they have support.For more information about R U OK? R U OK? and here.Our mental health and wellbeing is important to look after. Each one of us, lives a busy life and our everyday lives are exposed to and impacted by various pressures throughout each and every year.These pressures can have an effect on our mental health and potentially result in us feeling stressed.Click here to check out our video by, Rachel Pearse, WorkPac’s National Safety and Risk Manager, that addresses what mental health is and the various factors in our lives that can impact us and our capacity to cope with today’s busy environment.WorkPac offers an employee assistance program provided by Gryphon Psychology who offer professional counselling for all WorkPac employees. Alternatively, Lifeline provides 24/7 help and can be contacted on 13 11 14, or head to their website www.lifeline.org.au for further information.From all of us at WorkPac, remember to have fun, stay safe and continue to promote a healthy workplace.

Workpac Highly Commended at the Qld Reconciliation Awards

BY: Tracey Mesken02/06/2017

​WorkPac are pleased to have been awarded a Highly Commended at the Queensland Reconciliation Awards.  Announced June 1 at a ceremony in Cairns the Awards program recognises businesses, community organisations, educational institutions and partnerships taking positive steps towards reconciliation across Queensland.For WorkPac many of employment and training services are delivered, or in close proximity to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and lands. To date the WorkPac Group Reconciliation initiative has realised several outcomes including:creation of a specialist Indigenous Services division, JobTrail, within the WorkPac Groupcreation of innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2017–19official launch of the RAP on both the East and West Coasts, attended by community groups and clientsdevelopment of WorkPac Group’s reconciliation journey video, narrated by Mr Alec Doomadgee, which introduces the journey as told through the RAP artwork designed by Mr. Stephen Hogarth. The purpose of this video was to raise awareness, among employees and wider communities, of the group’s support and underlying commitment to reconciliationdesign and delivery of several programs of work throughout Queensland which provide training and employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoplesdevelopment of new relationships with community members and support groups across WorkPac Group’s locational footprint which has led to increased participation efforts.As at March 2017, the WorkPac Group has achieved an improved culture of inclusion and awareness towards reconciliation, and strengthened ambition and capacity to move forward, positively, on its journey.The 2017 award winners were announced during National Reconciliation Week, 27 May–3 June 2017.National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2017 marks two major milestones in the reconciliation history of Australia—50 years since the 1967 referendum, and 25 years since the Mabo decision.These events were turning points for rights and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Together, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians need to take the next steps in our reconciliation journey.We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Elders and leaders in the communities in which we work, our employees and our clients. Our journey towards Reconciliation would not be possible without the commitment from all these groups. We also congratulate all other award winners and finalists. You can learn more by visiting the Queensland Government Website https://www.qld.gov.au/about/events-awards-honours/awards/reconciliation-awards/JobTrail is the Indigenous services division of the WorkPac Group. The ultimate aim of the business is to improve Indigenous life outcomes. We are optimistic about the prospects of a fairer, more inclusive future, proper recognition of the past and the capacity of genuine partnerships to deliver meaningful and lasting change well into the future. Learn more at www.jobtrailatsi.com.au

Women In Mining Infographic

BY: Tracey Mesken08/05/2017

​Women in mining only make up 15% of the sector. We know as an industry we have to do better and if we want things to change it's up to us to lead the way.WorkPac surveyed 675 women in Western Australia to understand what attracts them to the mining industry and what their work preferences are.These results will shape recruitment strategies to increase participation of women in mining the workforce.Our Women in Mining infographic shows what they said ...   WorkPac together with Fortescue Metals Group, a global leader in the mining market, are reaching out to women who have ever thought about a career in mining or who are considering a return to the industry. Click here to register your interest in working for WorkPac at one of Fortescue Metals' mines. Why is this important? Why is it critical to have women in mining? Gender parity in the workplace is not only an issue of fairness but is about attracting the best talent. Women account for half the world's population and if they don't achieve their full economic potential, our economy suffers, says the McKinsey Global Institute. If you're excluding half the population from your recruitment process, you're simply not hiring from the best talent pool available. A study by the McKinsey Global Institute finds that the world economy could add $12 trillion in growth over the next decade if countries meet the best-in-region scores for improving women’s participation in the labor force. The Credit Suisse Research Institute found that companies with female directors on the board outperformed all-male boards across growth, productivity and return on equity. This doesn't just apply to our boardrooms. Teams with lower percentages of women have lower sales and lower profits than teams with a balanced gender mix. Performance and productivity is higher across gender neutral crews, teams and departments.The correlation between gender balanced teams and financial performance is addressed in many studies, examples can be found at the Australian Government's Workplace Gender Equality Agency and Harvard University's Kennedy School to name a few.Last year, Fortescue Mining Group appointed two new female directors, former Leighton executive Penny Bingham-Hall and Deloitte partner Jennifer Morris, to replace two men retiring from the board.Six of the 10 board of directors are women and Fortescue’s chairman and founder, Andrew Forrest, told Women's Agenda that the diversity of the board has been critical and "a natural evolution" for the company.Fortescue’s share price grew by 400 per cent in 2016 and Mr Forrest says while merit-based hiring is a given, "diversity is an extremely strong factor in merit. If you have no women on your board and you are looking at a new director with approximately equal skills, for the sake of your shareholders choose diversity."Interested in mining jobs in WA? Click here to search resources jobs in Western Australia.Sources:http://www.mckinsey.com/global-themes/employment-and-growth/how-advancing-womens-equality-can-add-12-trillion-to-global-growthhttp://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/boardroom-gender-balance-improving-but-much-work-to-do/news-story/b51e1aaaf18398362e983b7fe584b797https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/eds-blog/how-fortescue-metal-has-a-board-dominated-by-women/

$50, 000 donation to make a difference in young lives

BY: Tracey Mesken26/04/2017

​The WorkPac Group and Clontarf Foundation are changing the lives of Indigenous boysThe WorkPac Group is partnering with the Clontarf Foundation to improve education and employment prospects for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.​The Clontarf Foundation provides school-engagement mechanisms for Indigenous male students who would otherwise not attend or have low school attendance.Clontarf academies are located across Australia and focus on mentoring and supporting Indigenous school boys to improve their education and employment prospects as well as their self-esteem and life skills.WorkPac will be contributing $50,000 to the Foundation to support their work across Australia. The program also receives state and federal government funding.This money will help to change the lives of more Indigenous students by helping the Foundation to expand its program.National Manager of the WorkPac Group’s Indigenous division, JobTrail, Julian Genn says the program is helping close the gap through education, sport, and employment initiatives.“I travelled to some academies around Toowoomba and saw first-hand the kind of work Clontarf does and how funding is spent,” said Mr Genn.“In the morning, we travelled to each boy’s home, collecting them for school.“First up was Rugby League training on the school grounds followed by breakfast in the Clontarf room; The boys then went off to school but were able to come back to the Clontarf room during the day as required.“They’re taught to introduce themselves to new people in the room and to make eye contact, these kids are highly engaged and it was easy to see the value Clontarf is providing”.The Foundation also holds Clontarf Camps and boys who meet attendance KPIs are invited to attend.Ongoing mentoring and support is provided by Clontarf and WorkPac after the boys leave school and into their employment.“The ultimate aim of the Indigenous services division of the WorkPac Group is to improve Indigenous life outcomes and through genuine partnerships with foundations like Clontarf, we can deliver meaningful and lasting change”.The Clontarf Foundation achieves consistent results in helping close the gap in education, employment and health.Year to year the retention average for the academy is 90%, attendance averages 80%, and on average 80% of Clontarf graduates remain engaged in employment or further training and study 12 months after leaving school.According to a 2014 independent study conducted by ACIL Allen Consulting, the economic impact of the academies delivers significant return on investment.Every dollar spent in maintaining a boy in the program returns $8.13 to the state over his working life.

$50,000 donation to make a difference in young lives

BY: Tracey Mesken26/04/2017

​The WorkPac Group and Clontarf Foundation are changing the lives of Indigenous boysThe WorkPac Group is partnering with the Clontarf Foundation to improve education and employment prospects for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.The Clontarf Foundation provides school-engagement mechanisms for Indigenous male students who would otherwise not attend or have low school attendance.Clontarf academies are located across Australia and focus on mentoring and supporting Indigenous school boys to improve their education and employment prospects as well as their self-esteem and life skills.WorkPac will be contributing $50,000 to the Foundation to support their work across Australia. The program also receives state and federal government funding.This money will help to change the lives of more Indigenous students by helping the Foundation to expand its program.National Manager of the WorkPac Group’s Indigenous division, JobTrail, Julian Genn says the program is helping close the gap through education, sport, and employment initiatives.“I travelled to some academies around Toowoomba and saw first-hand the kind of work Clontarf does and how funding is spent,” said Mr Genn.“In the morning, we travelled to each boy’s home, collecting them for school.“First up was Rugby League training on the school grounds followed by breakfast in the Clontarf room; The boys then went off to school but were able to come back to the Clontarf room during the day as required.​“They’re taught to introduce themselves to new people in the room and to make eye contact, these kids are highly engaged and it was easy to see the value Clontarf is providing”.The Foundation also holds Clontarf Camps and boys who meet attendance KPIs are invited to attend.Ongoing mentoring and support is provided by Clontarf and WorkPac after the boys leave school and into their employment.“The ultimate aim of the Indigenous services division of the WorkPac Group is to improve Indigenous life outcomes and through genuine partnerships with foundations like Clontarf, we can deliver meaningful and lasting change”.The Clontarf Foundation achieves consistent results in helping close the gap in education, employment and health.Year to year the retention average for the academy is 90%, attendance averages 80%, and on average 80% of Clontarf graduates remain engaged in employment or further training and study 12 months after leaving school.According to a 2014 independent study conducted by ACIL Allen Consulting, the economic impact of the academies delivers significant return on investment.Every dollar spent in maintaining a boy in the program returns $8.13 to the state over his working life.

8 Ways to Build Relationships at Work

BY: Tracey Mesken10/04/2017

​When considering how much of the working week is spent with colleagues, it’s no surprise that one of the biggest causes of work-related stress is poor relationships.Taking steps to actively build rapport with work colleagues helps contribute to a harmonious work environment.Just like your personal relationships, nurturing healthy connections at work requires some consideration and effort. Here are eight everyday actions that can help.1. Be considerate of work spacesObserve how your colleagues work and be mindful, particularly when you have to share a space. You may enjoy background music but others may like to work in silence. Or perhaps reconsider your loud ring tone if you see the person sitting near you start to twitch every time you get a call.2. Always respondAcknowledge calls or emails from colleagues as much as you can, even if you are too busy to properly respond at the time. It doesn’t take much effort and is the polite thing to do. Talking face to face always helps strengthen a connection, so occasionally take the opportunity get away from behind your emails and respond directly or over the phone.3. Respect other people's timeEveryone is trying to juggle multiple priorities, so when asking for help with something, don’t blind side a colleague with unrealistic demands or timeframes. A genuine “thank you” is always appreciated so be sure to say it when due.4. Avoid the blame gameIf a project runs into a problem or a deadline isn’t met, resist the urge to blame someone outright. Passing the buck or singling someone out will alienate colleagues and won’t make you seem like a team player.5. Keep to your commitmentsQuite simply, if you say you’re going to do something, do it when you say you will. Set and deliver on expectations and communicate openly and in a timely manner if there are going to be delays. Don’t make people chase you for updates or results.6. Celebrate the success of your coworkersHow good do you feel when someone acknowledges your work or achievements? Do the same for your colleagues, no matter how big or small.7. Don’t let emotions get in the wayWhen you aren’t getting the results you need from a colleague, think before banging out a huffy email, CCing (or worse BCCing) in their manager and half the company along with them. A public email beating is a sure fire way to permanently damage relationships fast so be direct but courteous and keep emotions at bay. Use phone or face to face meetings for robust conversations to ensure nothing is lost in translation over email.8. Have a laughIt is easier to work with and navigate through issues with someone you can share a laugh and relax with. When your workload allows it, go to lunch with colleagues or take five minutes in your day to have an informal chat and connect over non-work related things.The saying “treat others the way you want to be treated” couldn’t ring more true in a workplace. By simply being respectful and having a positive attitude towards your colleagues, you can strengthen your relationships and contribute to a supportive work environment.

Innovative mechanical fitter redesigns mining skid lights

BY: Tracey Mesken04/04/2017

​Click this link to download the full article: Mechanical fitter redesigns mining skid lightsFor media enquiries please contact Penny Massey at penny.massey@workpac.comTranscript:Local “Iron Man” redesigns mining skid lights, creating potential game-changer in his family garageMeet our real-life Iron Man in the making, Dave.Dave Nicholls is a WorkPac mechanical fitter working at Rio Tinto’s Hunter Valley Operations.Like Marvel’s character Tony Stark, Dave has a creative flair for building machines but he innovates on his off-swing, in the family garage while raising his three girls with his wife Kelly.Working on a mine site, Dave sees first-hand some of the challenges the mining industry faces with lighting plants.This inspired Dave to create a safer, greener, more cost-effective skid light.Building the skid light prototype in his garage for the last two years has been anall-consuming process for Dave and his family but his design has multinational giant Rio Tinto excited.“I built the prototype in my garage at home. It’s about six and a half tonnes all up, six metres long and three and a half metres wide,” says Dave.The early days were hard, Dave struggled to move steel around and turn parts over.Working on a large machine meant everything had to be welded into position.After finishing the base, and fabricating the smaller pieces, Dave transported the skid light to his brother-in-law’s farm where they painted it, installed the engine and started commissioning and trialling lights.“Rio has this unrelenting focus on everyone getting home safe and healthy every day,” Dave said.“Ultimately, my focus is safety. Working on a Rio site where there’s a strong safety culture, safety is the number one priority for everyone. Something I’m really proud of as a worker on the HVO [Hunter Valley Operations] site is a thing Riointroduced called Critical Risk Management”.CRM (Critical Risk Management) is implemented across all Rio Tinto operations and focuses on identifying critical risks and verifying critical controls. For each critical risk, there’s a series of controls that must be in place to prevent an incident.Dave designed his skid light with Rio Tinto’s CRM in mind and has eliminated the risk of lifting operations, entanglement and crushing, uncontrolled release of energy and electrical contact and has greatly reduced the risk of vehicle impact on a person.“That’s what got Rio’s attention and it’s why there’s been so much support for my design”.“The existing skid lights used on mine sites around the world are overcomplicated for what they have to do.“They just shine a light but there’s so much stuff going on and so many moving parts.“This increases the chances of crush injuries, pinch points, cylinders failing, suspended loads and uncontrollable releases of energy.“I thought, there should be something easier. There wasn’t. So I built it.“As well as increasing the safety of the lighting plant, my new design also increases productivity because you’re not stopping trucks and machines that cost $400 an hour while you move a light.“Getting out of the cab, making the machine fundamental, lowering it down, packing it up, isolating it and taking it to a new location holds up the fleet and when you have a reasonably sized fleet like we have at Rio, it adds up.“Something as simple as not having to get out of a cab to lower the mast will save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.“Rio have been working with me to time the difference between the current skid lights and my design.“It’s proving to be a big time saver”.Dave took an environmental approach to the new design, ensuring his skid light reduces greenhouse gas emissions.“Rio is a firm believer in minimising environmental impact so it’s great that we can take a collaborative approach to the impacts of climate change”.The skid light in use runs on a 415 generator which is fuelled 156 times a year.The new design is fuelled 10 times per year with the option of incorporating a battery pack to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to extend services and refuelling periods.The battery pack will see the new skid lights refuelled four times per year.While Dave might not get recruited for S.H.I.E.L.D any time soon, this Hunter Valley Tony Stark is enjoying a healthy, collaborative relationship with Rio Tinto as they explore the potential of Dave’s innovative skid light.For now, Dave continues to juggle his role as a WorkPac mechanical fitter, father and husband while working on his entrepreneurial project.“WorkPac has been really good to me. It’s great turning up to do your job and getting paid – you don’t have to worry about losing contracts.“If something happens, if a contract is lost, WorkPac has such a wide reach across the industry so you can just swap over to another site.“When you’re working for yourself you get a bit sick of chasing work and chasing money all the time.“The stability of income and employment is good for me and has empowered me to work on my skid light design.“My father-in-law and family have all been very supportive, helping me get the design to where it is now.“We’ve been working on it whenever I’m not at work but I’m confident it will all pay off.“There’s nothing out there like it”.Dave is determined to increase the safety and wellbeing of workers, cut costs and better manage atmospheric emissions through hisinnovative light design.Don’t be surprised if you start to see this new design onsite in the future. 

Reasons your resume isn't getting noticed

BY: Tracey Mesken03/04/2017

​You submit your resume and wait.  And wait.  And wait.  Why isn’t anyone calling?A resume is an important tool in your job search. It is the key to helping you get hired for a position.Your resume is a chance to make a great first impression. It can be tough to stand out in today’s competitive job market.  Follow these tips to create a resume that gets the phone ringing and helps you land the job you want.1. Open with a punchThe first section of your resume should pack the strongest punch.  Your resume needs to be more than just a list of jobs. Start with a summary of your most important skills that are relevant to the jobs you are chasing.  Think about what the employer would be looking for and then tailor your existing skills and qualifications accordingly.  Include things like:• Your degree/s and any specialisations• Licenses’, tickets & certifications like your CPR• Medicals & Inductions• Years of experience• Important skills & industry knowledge2. Your Work HistoryYour work history is where you have a chance to prove your skill level. You might find it difficult to identify your achievements because you feel you were just doing your job.  Have a think about the responsibilities and achievements you take for granted and include these in your resume. Ask yourself questions like:• Did you win any awards of receive incentives for work performance?• Did you train new employees?• Did your work enable a project to be completed on time and/or on budget?• Did you complete any special training?• Did you submit all your reports on time?• Did you implement or recommend processes that improved productivity or efficiency?3. TrainingA stand out resume needs to include hands on education and training.  Use this section to list courses attended, vocational training, further education, certification, licenses completed, signed skills matrix & equipment competencies.4. Include KeywordsEver wondered how prospective employers or recruiters find your resume on platforms like SEEK or in their own databases? They search for candidates using keywords. Using keywords such as "registered nurse"or "nurse case manager" in your resume, for example, will help an employer or recruiter find your resume in their database or on a job board - as long as they're searching for candidates who are either a registered nurse or nurse case manager. This is keyword matching. Always think about what your next employer is searching for when writing your resume.5. Proof ReadSpelling and grammatical errors are very common in resumes.  Avoiding these mistakes can make all the difference in your resume being put forward to possible employers.  Make sure you show your resume to a few people to double check it is error free.  You need to think of your resume as an advertisement of your services, that extra attention to detail will make all the difference.Don’t be disheartened and don’t give up! There are so many roles out there and so many people applying that you are not likely to find the perfect job on your first go.So use the tips above, create that stand-out resume and make sure you set time aside each day to sit down and search for new positions and apply, apply, apply!

The Gap Football Club kicks off the 2017 season

BY: Tracey Mesken23/03/2017

​Over the weekend, the 2017 season commenced for most of The Gap Football Club teams.WorkPac is the proud sponsor of the football club’s All Female Academy and we’d like to introduce you to some of the talented players we support.The All Female Academy provides players with an opportunity to develop their technical skills in a professional, safe and supportive environment.Backing female participation in sport and supporting the next generation of soccer players benefits our communities and improves the quality of sport as we grow talent from the ground up.The Gap Football Club's All Female Academy is a great example of the progress being made as we work towards gender equality on and off the field.We can't wait to see what the girls achieve this season as they play with passion, skill and enthusiasm.  

Happy International Women's Day

BY: Tracey Mesken08/03/2017

​Today is International Women’s Day and WorkPac commits to being bold and celebrating women’s achievements.We're showcasing some of the inspiring women at WorkPac who won awards at our annual Dudley Awards for Excellence event. This employee recognition program is designed to acknowledge and celebrate our high achievers. At our most recent event, 75% of the awards were won by women.Head to our Facebook page to meet some of our female leaders over the next few weeks: https://www.facebook.com/workpac/