Corporate Social Responsibility
Citywide has a proud history of providing services and support to the communities in which we operate and where our employees live, work and play. Through our Corporate Social Responsibility Program, we are committed to providing shared value for our host communities, our customers and our business. Our approach to corporate & social responsibility is framed by four key issues of concern to our customers and their community constituents:
– Education, Training and Jobs
– Environment & Sustainability
– Homelessness, Social Justice and Well-being
– Youth Opportunities
We are proud to support and partner with community organisations that are addressing such critical social issues. As a services company, we pride ourselves on maintaining and enhancing community assets and being actively involved in local communities; engaging with them to make positive social changes.
Partnerships
Through our Community Engagement Framework, we partner with selected social enterprises, charities and not-for-profits who share our corporate values and who are strategically placed to help solve the key issues of concern to our customers. Click through to view our current partner social procurement and community organisations (opens in new window).
Employee Volunteering
At Citywide, our staff proactively contribute over and above the day job to the wellbeing of their local communities and other social concerns further afield. This support varies from community to community and is demonstrated in a variety of ways, including the provision of paid leave for staff to volunteer with a community concern.
Financial Support & Matched Funding
Citywide proudly supports selected not-for-profits, charities and social enterprises with in-kind pro bono services, products and support. We also provide financial support to several partners to support them in meeting their strategic objectives, including matching funding from individual staff fundraising efforts.
Diversity & Inclusion
Having a social licence to operate is integral to our shared value approach with the community and all our stakeholders, with the common goal of fostering greater social cohesion. This supports our commitment to promoting diversity, equality and inclusion across our company without discrimination and we actively seek to create employment opportunities for the economically disadvantaged, disabled, CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) communities and indigenous interests.
This policy covers all operational and administrative offices and sites of Citywide and subsidiaries such as Technigro. It also takes into account the company’s capabilities and capacity to resource (staff, financial; operational; equipment, etc.).
Responsible Sourcing
Citywide and its subsidiaries including Technigro are committed to responsible sourcing practices.
We regularly review our operations and supply chains with the aim of ensuring that we, our suppliers and third-party business partners operate without infringing human rights. We do not tolerate any form of modern slavery practices including child or forced labour. Access our Modern Slavery Statement here (click to download).
To help us achieve our aim, if you become aware of any related concerns, we encourage you to let us know by contacting us through this website (click through to Contact page).
Sustainability
Our goal is to minimise our environmental footprint and to inspire and equip our people with ‘world’s best’ sustainability standards to effectively manage the environmental aspects of our operations, whilst ensuring continuous improvement and zero harm to the environment and communities in which we work.
We use a market leading environmental data management platform to manage and monitor energy usage and costs across all of our operations. The data allows us to monitor our carbon generation and provides us with information to evaluate initiatives developed and implemented to reduce our carbon footprint.
We are also a foundation partner in the Melbourne Renewable Energy Project (MREP). Through this program - led by our parent the City of Melbourne Council - we will purchase renewable energy through a wind farm being constructed for the MREP in regional Victoria.
Award winner Jayde proves a gem in the parks of Melton
Jayde Robson is living proof of the loyalty that comes from working for someone who truly values you.
When the Ballarat native applied to work as a turf apprentice on our Melton contract in 2016, Operations Supervisor Simon Smith decided to take a chance on her. Four years later, Jayde has completed her Turf Management qualification six months ahead of schedule, and has just enrolled at night school to do a second qualification in Horticulture – with the express goal of broadening her wings at Citywide.
“I’m at this company for keeps,” says the 29-year-old with a grin.
Today, Jayde is a shining star at Geelong’s Gordon TAFE, where she is studying her Certificate III in Horticulture.
This week, she was also named Sports Turf Association Victoria's Turf Management Graduate of the Year and will now go on to the national titles. It’s a happy coincidence for her four-strong team in Melton, where she works alongside last year’s national Sports Turf Graduate of the Year, Nathan Andrews.
Jayde joined Citywide through Given The Chance, our partnership with Melton Council and the Brotherhood of St Laurence, which provides on-the-job training and support for long-term jobseekers looking for a new career.
Before 2016, she was working at McDonalds in Ballarat, where she rose to become a store supervisor. But she was never going to find total fulfilment there.
“I always wanted a job outdoors,” says Jayde. “I went to several interviews at the local council, but they didn’t want a mature-age apprentice. But then I met the Brotherhood of St Laurence and they sent me to see Simon Smith.
“That was on a Friday, and I started at Citywide on the Monday.”
Hitting the ground running
“I remember Jayde presenting really well and being really enthusiastic at that interview,” recalls Simon Smith. “She may be quiet, but she’s switched on and she takes on every job we give her. It can be a challenge finding women for roles in horticulture, so finding someone like Jayde who’s so keen to learn is a really positive experience.
“The ideal employee for us is someone who rocks up in the morning with the minimum of fuss, ready to take on the job and work hard all day. That’s Jayde in a nutshell. We couldn’t be happier with her.”
Jayde joined the Melton turf team in July 2016 and has been working for supervisor Leigh Stewart alongside Nathan Andrews and John Robinson.
During her first three years, she spent a day each week at The Gordon TAFE doing her Certificate III in Turf Management. “Your employer can sign you off when they think you’re competent and that happened to me in November, six months ahead of schedule. I’m now back at Gordon doing nights for my Cert III in Horticulture.”
Jayde’s likely to finish her next certificate early as well, having already completed the units related to turf management. “It’ll give me a lot more possibilities in Melton, where there are 15 horticulturalists and four turf positions.”
Jayde says she’s been pleasantly surprised at the culture at Citywide. “I work with four blokes and they’re all fantastic. I’ve seen some ladies leave these kinds of jobs because it just wasn’t right for them, but I can honestly say I’m really happy here.
“Working with Nathan is a blast. He’s had so many offers since he won graduate of the year, but he’s sticking with Citywide too. I think that says everything, doesn’t it?”
Related story: Turf graduate a cut above
Media Contact:
Simon Mossman - Group Corporate Communications
M 0427 307 216
E simon.mossman@citywide.com.au
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