The development of a robust, resilient and agile organisation relies on the attraction and retention of talented and engaged people. Housing Choices o ers competitive remuneration and non-salaried benefits, a significant focus on learning and development, a reward and recognition program, and a professional, safe and collaborative work environment supported by sound people practices. Housing Choices sta enjoy up to 16 weeks’ primary carer paid parental leave, a day of leave on their birthday, purchased leave, complementary leave during Christmas and New Year, volunteer leave, salary packaging, income protection insurance, financial study assistance, and flexible working arrangements. Understanding the experience of our sta is incredibly important to us. In February 2020 Housing Choices completed a Sta Culture Pulse Survey. Eighty percent of sta participated and 71% expressed overall organisational satisfaction. Satisfaction with teamwork was at 76%. Housing Choices has established a representative Employee Experience Steering Committee to support, improve and guide the employee experience using insights from the survey. Setting the foundational learning requirements has also been a focus, with majority of our sta across all o ces completing Customer Service, Professional Workplace Conduct and Safety training, and a number of frontline sta completing a range of complex client related and child safety related training. Safety is very important to Housing Choices. There is a significant commitment to wellbeing and safety, focusing on prevention. In 2019-20, there were zero lost time injuries and zero medical injuries. Wellbeing programs include a yoga exercise program, mental health first aid training, quit smoking program and flu vaccinations.
2020 brought COVID-19 which resulted in a rapid change to the way we work. From March 2020 most sta were moved quickly to working from home. Employee wellbeing became a strong focus and sta were o ered two weeks paid COVID-19 leave and access to an extensive employee assistance and counselling program. Housing Choices has active social clubs of representative sta members across every state who shifted their focus to maintaining fun social interactions while employees were in lockdown. The Social Wellbeing and Activity Team (SWAT) created social events during work and after work hours, including quizzes, games and co ee catch ups. Our Marketing and Communications team have continued to support the raising of Housing Choices’ profile. The team gained high profile media to promote the completion of our Spence on Light development in South Australia, and the largest residential concrete pour in Somerset, Tasmania. Both these stories are profiled in this publication. In February this year, Housing Choices Australia hosted the 2020 Oswald Barnett Oration at MPavilion. The event featured an eminent panel discussion with Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sally Capp, Victorian Housing and Planning Minister, The Hon. Richard Wynne MP, Executive Director, Property Council of Australia (Victorian Division), Cressida Wall, Managing Director of Housing Choices Australia, Michael Lennon and CEO, National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC), Nathan Dal Bon. Journalist and lead moderator with the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership, Peter Mares moderated the panel discussion, and the Q&A session that followed.
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Housing Choices Australia | Annual Report 2019-20
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