2019

WORKPAC CHRISTMAS CLOSURE DATES - WHO TO CONTACT OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD

BY: Tracey Mesken13/12/2019

​Need to get in touch with us over the Christmas period?Please see the full list of Business Centre closure dates for the Christmas period below. For any urgent matters, please call us on 1300 967 572 and your call will be directed to the nearest open Business Centre.For information on payroll processing dates over the upcoming public holidays, check out our recent blog post here. QUEENSLAND/NTWorkPac BiloelaOnly Closed from 25th Dec - 29th Dec & 1st JanWorkPac BlackwaterClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac BowenClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanBMA Project ServicesOnly Closed from 25th Dec - 29th Dec & 1st JanWorkPac Brisbane NorthOnly Closed 25th - 29th Dec & 1st - 5th JanWorkPac Brisbane SouthOnly Closed 25th - 29th Dec & 1st - 5th JanWorkPac CairnsClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac EmeraldClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac Group Service CentreClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac GladstoneOnly Closed 25th - 29th Dec & 1st - 5th JanWorkPac Gold CoastClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac MackayOnly Closed from 25th Dec - 29th Dec & 1st JanWorkPac MoranbahOnly Closed from 25th Dec - 29th Dec & 1st JanWorkPac Mt IsaClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac Sunshine CoastClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac ToowoombaClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac TownsvilleClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanDarwinOnly Closed from 25th Dec - 29th Dec & 1st JanNEW SOUTH WALES/ACTWorkPac CanberraClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac Coffs HarbourClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac Dubbo and Central WestClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac GunnedahClosed from the 25th Dec - 5th JanWorkPac Hunter ValleyOnly Closed from 25th Dec - 29th Dec & 1st JanWorkPac NewcastleClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac Sydney, ParramattaOnly Closed 25th - 29th Dec & 1st - 5th JanWorkPac Sydney, NorthClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac Sydney, WollongongClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanVICTORIA/SOUTH AUSTRALIAWorkPac MelbourneClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac DandenongClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac AdelaideOnly Closed from 25th Dec - 29th Dec & 1st JanWorkPac Roxby DownsClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac WhyallaClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWESTERN AUSTRALIA/NTWorkPac BunburyClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac KarrathaClosed 23rd Dec - 29th Dec & 1st JanWorkPac KalgoorlieClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac NewmanOnly Closed 25th - 29th Dec & 1st - 5th JanWorkPac PerthOnly Closed 25th - 29th Dec & 1st - 5th JanWorkPac Port HedlandClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanWorkPac RockinghamClosed 23rd Dec - 5th JanRio Tinto Project ServicesOnly Closed 25th - 29th Dec & 1st - 5th Jan 

Notification of System Maintenance

BY: Tracey Mesken06/12/2019

​Our systems may be unavailable between 8:00pm until 10:00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time.We apologise for the outage, our goal is to ensure WorkPac Group businesses are always available; however, from time to time we conduct scheduled maintenance to improve our performance.If you are unable to access myworkpac.com, please check back later.If you wish to apply for a job please email your Name, Location, Job Title you are applying for and resume to info@workpac.com

WorkPac Health & Social Care's guide to understanding payroll over the Christmas period

BY: Tracey Mesken29/11/2019

​Over the busy holiday season, the last thing you want to be left wondering about is when you’ll be receiving your pay. All WorkPac employees have received emails and SMS communication regarding their pay changes over the Christmas period.​ Check the bottom of your payslipWorkPac puts messages on your payslip about upcoming changes to processing days. If you have any questions about accessing your payslips, check out some of our frequently asked questions here.With Christmas & New Year fast approaching, please be advised of the following pay processing dates:Week Commencing Monday 23th December 2019:thWeek Commencing Monday 30th December 2019:thnd Understand your banks processing daysPays may also be delayed further with your bank due to public holidays, so be sure to contact them to find out how they approach transferring money on public holidays. Talk to your recruitment CoordinatorIf you have any concerns regarding pay over the Christmas period, please get in touch with your recruiter in advance by calling 1300 967 572. To stay up to date on when your local business centre is open during the holidays, be sure to stay tuned for our upcoming post on all business centre hours.We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year.​

WORKPAC’S GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING PAYROLL OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD

BY: Tracey Mesken27/11/2019

​Over the busy holiday season, the last thing you want to be left wondering about is when you’ll be receiving your pay. All WorkPac employees have received emails and SMS communication regarding their pay changes over the Christmas period.​ Check the bottom of your payslipWorkPac puts messages on your payslip about upcoming changes to processing days. If you have any questions about accessing your payslips, check out some of our frequently asked questions here.With Christmas & New Year fast approaching, please be advised of the following pay processing dates:Week Commencing Monday 23th December 2019:Week Commencing Monday 30th December 2019: Understand your banks processing daysPays may also be delayed further with your bank due to public holidays, so be sure to contact them to find out how they approach transferring money on public holidays. Talk to your recruitment CoordinatorIf you have any concerns regarding pay over the Christmas period, please get in touch with your recruiter in advance by calling 1300 967 572. To stay up to date on when your local business centre is open during the holidays, be sure to stay tuned for our upcoming post on all business centre hours.We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year.Please note if you Work for Ravensworth, Hunter Valley Operations and Mt Thorley Warkworth in the Hunter Valley your payment details may differ, please contact your Recruitment Coordinator or check your weekly payslip for more details.        

How to stay safe this cyclone season

BY: Tracey Mesken12/11/2019

​Stay safe this cyclone season by making sure you’re well prepared and understand the processes to follow if a cyclone hits your area.  Keep reading for WorkPac’s full guide to cyclone season 2019/20.Where can I get information?The main sources of cyclone information are radio and television stations. During a cyclone threat, some stations keep local staff on duty 24 hours a day to broadcast cyclone information. Because of the high chance of the power supply being disrupted, it is important to have a battery-operated radio to listen for cyclone advice.The Bureau of Meteorology provides the latest watches, warnings and supporting information on this website and through its telephone service.Bureau of MeteorologyAutomated Telephone Messages: Cyclone Advice (Watch/Warning):QLD: 1300 659 212NT: 1300 659 211WA: 1300 659 210Emergency services agenciesEmergency Management Australia: Emergency Response AssistanceWestern Australia:Department of Fire & Emergency Services (DFES) Cyclone action advicePhone: 132 500 (see local phone directory for regional offices)Northern Territory:Northern Territory Emergency Services ( NTES) Cyclone action advicePhone: 131 444Queensland:Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) Phone: 132 500 (see local phone directory for regional offices)New South Wales:State Emergency Service (SES)Victoria:Vic EmergencyVictoria State Emergency Services: Be StormsafeTasmania:TasAlertTasmanian Fire ServicesTasmanian State Emergency Services  

WorkPac Hunter Valley Makes Move to New Singleton Office

BY: Tracey Mesken11/11/2019

​WorkPac’s Hunter Valley Business Centre has just relocated to a new office.Business Centre Manager, Ms. Elle Pomeroy, said the move has been a long awaited one.“We have been looking for a more accessible location in Singleton for some time now, we were really enthusiastic when this office space was available, and the time was right for us to move.”“Being here makes us more accessible to job seekers, current employees and clients, so it’s just another means of improving our services to those in the region”The team will be continuing to service the mining, construction and white-collar sectors.“WorkPac have a longstanding relationship with the Hunter Valley community, having first opened in 2005”.“Over the last 14 years, we have been fortunate to build ongoing relationships with several national and local companies, allowing us to recruit for a wide range of roles in the Hunter Region”. “Our team of 14 staff will continue to work predominately in the mining sector, recruiting for roles such operators and trades”In addition to ongoing support for job seekers, helping our clients source both new to industry and skilled staff, Ms. Pomeroy is excited for the team to continue their efforts in contributing to the local community.“It’s incredibly important that we help locals find work, upskill and that as individuals that we can make a positive difference in Singleton and surrounding regions.”“We’re proud to have been able to give back to the Hunter Valley, we sponsor several sporting groups, including most recently the Hunter Hawketts at the Hunter Valley Mining Charity Rugby League. We are always looking at where we can make a difference in our community, and encourage our employees and clients to share opportunities with us.“Over the past few years we have also been able to offer numerous mining traineeship opportunities through several of our large clients in the region, and we are excited to keep facilitating these pathways into making a career in the mining industry”“We are also passionate about diversity and equal opportunity so we will continue to work with JobTrail, WorkPac’s Indigenous services division, to provide employment and training opportunities to Indigenous Australians”Moving forward our focus will remain on safety, retention of people, and contributing to the local community”.The new office is located at Unit 2 & 3, 77 John Street, Singleton, 2330.Local job seekers are encouraged to register via our website and give the Hunter team a call on 07 6571 8922.    

How to get an entry level role in mining

BY: Tracey Mesken28/10/2019

​Entry-level mining roles do come by rarely and usually receive 1000’s of applications, so it can be very difficult to secure a role. Find out how to get started with WorkPac and apply for entry-level roles.​Getting StartedBefore applying for any positions, register with WorkPac, then complete the following steps:Fill out your personal details (this includes Name, DOB, contact details and your address)Provide an up to date resumeLet us know your work preferences so we can best match you with roles – this involves letting us know your current/last role and industry, your preferred industry, and your preferred Business Centre so we can assign you your recruitment coordinatorFill out the Lastly, enter in your relevant work history and provide us with at least two refereesOnce you’ve registered call your nearest business centre on 1300 967 572 so you can discuss what you’re seeking with one of our recruitment coordinators. You can also find your nearest business centre on Skills, experience, ticketsIf you’re looking for entry-level/trainee mining roles, we do not recommend completing training courses as most clients will want to train you themselves.To work on a mine site, you will need:Standard 11Be able to pass a drug and alcohol testDrivers Licence: Requirements for this can differ from site to site (manual/automatic/provisional). They must always be valid and current, always check.National Police Clearance (for some sites)Proof of Right to Work: This can be a driver’s licence, birth certificate and/or passport etc.Coal Board Medical (cost is covered by WorkPac, this is for coal mine sites only)Beneficial Tickets/LicencesThere are other tickets and licences that may give you an edge when applying for entry-level roles:Blue/White Construction CardOH&S Tickets for Civil equipment i.e. Bobcat, Excavator, Roller etc.Trades Papers/LicencesSkills List/CompetenciesWorking at HeightsConfined SpacesLow Voltage/CPRRII Dump Truck TicketWhat you need to bring to an interviewIf you do get an interview for an entry-level role, you must have:Completed the online registration processUploaded your resume with two referencesUploaded your Right to Work documentsDrivers LicenceStandard 11 (if relevant and if you have it)Current Coal Board Medical (if you have it)Black Coal Competency or Site Authority paperwork (if you have it)Where are the jobs? The following WorkPac Business Centres recruit for roles in mining. For info on upcoming mining projects across Australia, head here.Coal mining:BiloelaBlackwaterBowenEmeraldGunnedahHunter ValleyMackayMoranbahMuswellbrookIron ore mining:KarrathaNewmanPerthPort HedlandTom PriceOther mining:CairnsKalgoorlie Mt IsaDarwinRoxby Downs Q&AHow long will it take to get a job in the mines?Entry-level mining roles do come by rarely and usually receive 1000’s of applications, so it can be very difficult to secure a role. Therefore, persistence is the key to getting in, and it’s very important to build and maintain a relationship with your Recruitment Coordinator so that you stand out when roles do become available.It’s also important to note that FIFO roles are generally only offered to experienced operators. So, those able to live locally to a mine site or close enough to commit to DIDO (drive in drive out) / BIBO (bus in bus out) roles will have more opportunities.Is there anything else that will give me an advantage?Those who live in towns near mines and those willing to relocate for mining work will have a greater opportunity of getting into the industry.We also recommend networking as best you can with those within the industry. Sometimes having a valuable contact on-site can secure you your first mining opportunity.What is it like to work on a mine site?This will vary a lot depending on the role and the location. Some roles will require you to live in a regional or mining community near a site. While DIDO roles will require you to live within a reasonable driving distance of the site, often buses are provided from camp to get you to the mine site.Shift rosters will vary between sites but will generally operate on an “even-time” cycle (i.e. 4 days on/4 days off or 7 days on/7 days off), though some sites do have roster cycles that will require you to be away for extended periods of 2-3 weeks before returning home on a break. Again, this will all depend on the role and the site.What’s the difference between a green/entry-level operator and a traineeship?Both are terms used for new to industry roles, in which no prior mining experience is required, and since there isn’t assumed knowledge or experience you will be receiving training and mentorship on site. However, the biggest difference between the two is that a traineeship is a formal training program, running over a set period with a clear end goal of earning a nationally accredited qualification.Where can I get more information?If you were seeking more information, we’d recommend checking out the following webpages:WorkPac Mining JobsWorkPac's Guide to Coal Mining for Operators​

WorkPac Water Drive for Granite Belt Drought Assist

BY: Tracey Mesken18/10/2019

​Across Queensland, those in regional areas are doing it tough. Years of drought have left many farmers under serious strain, not able to make ends meet as they struggle to feed their animals, maintain their crops, and even care for themselves and their families.The Granite Belt is one of the regions that has been hit hard by the drought. It is also a region that makes a strong contribution to the wider state, providing a diverse range of produce, and bringing in tourists through their wineries and various festivals and events. As tanks in the region have dried up many have now turned to using bore water, with the water supplies that are left set to run out by Christmas.The credit team at the WorkPac Service centre recognised an opportunity to help those in our state doing it tough, by supporting the Granite Belt Drought Assist. The movement was started by locals to support those who need it most, particularly the smaller producers not eligible for government assistance.To support the cause, the team organised a water drive, encouraging water donations from staff in the business. Thanks to those at our Service Centre and our Business Centres in Brisbane North, Brisbane South and the Sunshine Coast, they were able to collect 1800 litres for donation.The team dropped off four ute loads of water yesterday to a warehouse in Rocklea, where it will then be transported to the Granite Belt region on October 26th.Organiser of the Let’s Send Them A Truck Load initiative, Rachael Eddy explained that this is the second water convoy they have organised.She said “We have nine trucks already filled and we are hoping to be able to fill 10 truck loads in total. This will equate to 200,000 litres of water for people whose tanks are dry.She explained “The Granite Belt Drought Assist team distributes the water to registered member of the public.” They prioritised the distribution of water to those without town water, to families with children and the elderly.”“Our farmers and farming families, our regional friends in the west don’t give up and neither can we.”“This drought isn’t going to break with the next rain, unfortunately it will take some decent rain to do any good."“But not being able to have a shower, have clean water to drink, brush your teeth or mix your babies formula is something no Australian should be faced with.”We encourage anyone who can to get involved, whether it’s through a monetary donation or a water donation. If you are in Brisbane get it touch with Rachael Eddy via the Let’s Send Them A Truck Load – WATER Convoy Facebook Page. You can learn more about the Granite Belt Drought Assist team on their website. 

Where can a career with WorkPac take you? James reflects on his 10 year career journey

BY: Tracey Mesken14/10/2019

​From Recruitment Coordinator to Business Centre ManagerJames’ journey with WorkPac over the last 10 years has not only led him to several job roles, but to locations across the country. He first started with the business in 2009 as a recruitment coordinator at our Adelaide Business Centre, before quickly moving on to a recruiter role in Roxby Downs. He excelled in the role and was promoted to Roxby Downs recruitment coordinator team leader in 2011. During this time James was able to really see the value he could offer to the community through his work.“One of the times I felt like we were able to make a real difference in some of our employee’s lives was being involved in the prisoner release program in Roxby Downs. To see the gratitude of the participants who were able to reintegrate back into society with a consistent work roster, routine as well as social life and get a chance for a new start after some of their mistakes from the past was really rewarding. Without this opportunity the reintegration into society would have been far more difficult.”In 2012 James was offered a role as Business Centre Manager of our Tom Price Business Centre, located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. He took a leap of faith and made the move from South Australia to Western Australia, where he stayed for three years and drove the Business Centre to new levels of success, something he accredits to a consistent approach.“I think the biggest contributor to the success of the business centre was consistency. This was not only about consistency in our delivery and accessibility to clients and staff, but most importantly consistency of our team. We built a fantastic team in Tom Price with a culture of hard work, fun and recognition. I remember there was even one year when every person in the business centre got nominated for a Dudley award (WorkPac’s annual internal awards). That same team and culture also saw the business double in revenue two years in a row”.From Business Centre Manager to Operations ManagerDespite his success in the Business Centre Manager role, a chance encounter with his future wife while visiting his home state led James back to Adelaide in 2015, where he took a role as Business Development Manager“I moved to Tom Price as a young single guy but 18 months in that role while I was back home in South Australia, I met my beautiful future wife Gabrielle. We did the long-distance thing for 18 months before that began to wear thin, prompting my working journey to go full circle and land me back in Adelaide. We have now been married for 3 years and have recently welcomed a baby boy Alby Thomas! One of the great things about the WorkPac business is that there are often opportunities available across the country, providing work options as things change in our personal lives”.The business recognised James’ strong leadership abilities, and in 2015 he was promoted to operations manager, where he has helped lead our Business Development Managers to success.“Since moving into the Operations Manager role I have had the most satisfaction from the feedback across our team on the establishment of the peer support community for our BDM’s. Any role within sales is always going to be tough and often quite a lonely role. Since forming this community group and creating a forum for connecting our people, who were previously quite siloed, our team now share more experiences, challenges, and learnings with each other and most importantly support each other in their roles and share laughs and banter”.Leading ChangeOn top of his day to day work, James has also led the charge on several initiatives that have changed the way we do business over the last 10 years.Change through TechnologyAfter a need arose from the business for better tools for our Business Development Managers to work while travelling, James worked with our head of ICT to come up with the idea of ChilliMate.“Mark and I (Head of ICT) had been spending time together working on a number of things in the ICT space, when he pointed out we had been investing a lot of tech into the recruitment side of the business, but not the sales side. After spending time in the field with our sales team, we decided to create a tool that would allow our sales people to have better mobile access to client data and visibility of all client prospects while out on the road. From that idea, Chillimate was born”Working as a map of WorkPac’s clients across Australia, the tool allows our Business Development Managers to see all current and prospective clients in the region so they can use their spare time wisely by getting in touch to build those relationships. ChilliMate has been well received across the organisation, winning the award for innovation at our annual internal awards night, the Dudleys.Change of our CSRAs a large organisation that primarily operates in regional and rural Australia, one of the core values of our business is to give back to the communities in which we operate. But with 40+ business centres across Australia, it was difficult to track what everyone was doing. As an answer to this, James came up with the idea of GiveBack.“The idea for GiveBack came about almost 2 years ago and was in response to two challenges that we were facing at the time. Firstly, we were seeing an increased expectation that we were able to clearly articulate what we were doing from a community engagement perspective with our major clients. Secondly, we had a CSR program in place and our teams were often getting involved with great grass roots initiatives, but we were not good at capturing, sharing and recognising those teams for the great work that they were doing. We wanted to be able to share these activities across the wider business so that we could promote more of our teams to get involved in giving back”.Integrated with the Facebook for Business platform Workplace, Giveback allows everyone from the business to coordinate, submit and share their CSR activities, which are then shared to Workplace for everyone to see.Not only does GiveBack provide a way to track how we’re contributing to our communities, it is also a fun and social way for those within our business to be recognised for supporting local causes. This recognition included a new award category at our annual ‘Dudley Awards’“It is so great to see the WorkPac business pushing towards being an industry leader in the space of community engagement and CSR. The fact that we now recognise our individuals and teams who are champions of giving back, along side the more traditional recognitions such as financial and business performance, is very cool and shows the importance that we place on social responsibility”.Onto the next ten!We’re proud to have been a key part of James’ professional and personal journey over the past 10 years, and we can’t wait to not only see where he goes next, but to see what new ideas he brings to the business in the future.“When I sit down and think back over the journey and to the young (and very green) 21-year-old lad that joined the business those many moons ago, it certainly does put the past 10 years into perspective. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities WorkPac has given me and I am proud of what I have been able to contribute in return. At the risk of being ‘that guy’ – here is to the next 10!”

Sarina Ute Muster Gathers to Raise Awareness of Suicide Prevention

BY: Tracey Mesken03/10/2019

​Over this long weekend from Saturday 5 to Monday 7 October the Sarina Showgrounds will host an action-packed event of driving, bull-riding, A Show and Shine, Aussie FMX displays, live country music concerts, great food, fireworks and activities for the whole family, and there are camping options on site.The idea was hatched by Peter Zigmantas and his wife Diane, combining their love of motorsport and events with Ziggy's drive to make a difference in his local community.The event’s nominated charity for 2019 is Grapevine Group.Some years ago, Ziggy trained with the Grapevine group in responding to suicide and supporting people impacted or at risk, after the loss of his brother.Ziggy is one of 5458 people trained by the Grapevine group to provide support to his various and extensive networks including Army veterans, in his role as WorkPac Regional Risk manager, and across family and friends.The major motoring event this weekend will bring people together from the local community to promote awareness and education for suicide prevention.Ziggy’s national company WorkPac has got behind sponsoring the event to help share its message widely.Managing Director, Mr. Praanesh Prasad said suicide prevention is a hugely important issue for every Australian community and WorkPac is committed to supporting mental health programs within the company and beyond it.“Ziggy is our Regional Risk Manager and he really walks the talk; he and his wife Di have supported the great work done by the Grapevine group in the Mackay community for years, raising money and awareness, and working tirelessly behind the scenes to pull together this impressive event – it is inspiring for us all,” he said.More information:https://sarinautemuster.com/https://www.facebook.com/SarinaUteMuster2019/http://www.grapevinegroup.org.au/