Villa Maria leads the way in providing fair and flexible work practices |
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Villa Maria’s status as a leading organisation for providing best practice, fair and flexible working conditions has been cemented after winning consecutive Fair and Flexible Employer Recognition awards on June 23.  From left to right: Tina Dimitriadis Villa Maria Senior HR Consultant, Martin Pakula MLC Minister for Public Transport and Industrial Relations, Libby O'Connor Senior Adviser Working Families Program, Helen McPhee Villa Maria General Manager - People Services and Darren Mannix Villa Maria Manager Human Resources.Now in its second year, the prestigious Victorian Government awards honour organisations deemed “corporate role models” for introducing initiatives to help working families.
As a values-based organisation providing quality services and life enhancing opportunities for older people and people with a disability, Villa Maria has never been afraid to challenge the status quo or raise the bar to achieve the best possible outcomes for the people it supports, as well as its 950 employees across 42 locations.
CEO Valerie Lyons said she was “extremely proud” to be one of 20 Victorian organisations to take out the award, and one of only seven to be recognised in both 2009 and 2010.
“Villa Maria has long recognised and understood the need to create a flexible, supportive and innovative workplace for our 950 staff through arrangements including 48/52 leave arrangements, job sharing, learning and development opportunities and flexible start and finish times,” Ms Lyons said.
“We are proud that we continually work towards being an employer of choice, and have a passionate Equal Employment Opportunity Committee dedicated to promoting diversity and equality across the workplace.
“For example, this year we introduced free child care and aged care referral services, which help staff find appropriate care for their child, or with arranging community support or residential care for an ageing relative.”
Ms Lyons said Villa Maria was constantly looking to further its commitment to being a fair and flexible workplace with future initiatives to be introduced including: a Stay in Touch maternity leave initiative that allows staff to keep their work relationship alive while on leave to make the transition back to work more supported and comfortable, breast feeding facilities, and new parent/expectant parent kits.
Business Solutions Team member Lachlan Bakewell said taking advantage of Villa Maria’s 50/52 leave options had freed up valuable time to spend with his young family.
“I have also been granted time to participate in fire and emergency with the CFA as a volunteer. To me, this has demonstrated a genuine commitment by Villa Maria to not only support me but the Victorian community in times of need.”
Commendation awards were also given to: ACER, Baker and McKenzie, Benetas, the Building Commission, City of Melbourne, Civic Home Timber and Hardware Colac, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Country Road, DASSI, Hobsons Bay City Council, IBM Australia, KPMG, Maddocks, Manningham City Council, Maribyrnong City Council, Mercy Health, Vision Australia, Western Region Health Centre and Yarra Ranges Shire Council.
Media enquiries: call Cassie Maher on (03) 9855 7729 or 0406 382 560. |
