Employment Plus helps Woolworths boost its Indigenous workforce

The past 12 months have seen Employment Plus expanding its successful partnership with Diversity Dimensions to help Woolworths Limited bolster its Indigenous workforce.

Back in April 2016, Woolworths Limited announced they would recruit an additional 1,600 Indigenous workers over three years as part of the Federal Government’s Employment Parity Initiative – adding to its team of 2,000 Indigenous workers and becoming one of Australia’s largest Indigenous employers. Employment Plus signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Diversity Dimensions to assist with the recruitment, placement and mentoring of Indigenous employees for Woolworths.

Over the course of the year, Employment Plus candidates nationally have undertaken comprehensive Diversity Dimensions training to equip them with vital skills around transitioning into the workplace.

As part of this training, they were provided with a thorough understanding of:

• the skills, knowledge and self-awareness required to work in a team and business environment
• their personal strengths, behavioural and learning styles
• the core requirements for meeting internal and external customer needs and expectations
• the recruitment and selection process.

Once the training has been successfully completed, candidates then have the opportunity to work across Woolworths Supermarkets, Dan Murphy’s, BWS and BIG W stores.

To date, over 80 Indigenous jobseekers have been placed in roles across WA (34), NSW/ACT (21) and Queensland/NT (34).

At the launch of the initiative, Woolworths Limited CEO, Brad Banducci, said: “Our stores make great training grounds for the leaders of tomorrow and Woolworths is committed to ensuring our teams reflect the local communities they serve,” Mr Banducci said.

Employment Plus Managing Director, Greg Moult, recently endorsed Mr Banducci’s comments, stating: “It has been a privilege to work with Diversity Dimensions and Woolworths Limited on the implementation of this important initiative, and fantastic to see a range of retail sector employment opportunities and experience open up for our Indigenous jobseekers across Australia.”