Posted on

Staff in Focus: Meet our Recruitment Specialist

Ben has been with Campbell Page for 13 years. Having worked in a variety of roles as part of employment services, business development and Indigenous service teams he has helped deliver the Campbell Page promise to countless clients as a Recruitment Specialist.

Currently I’m National Business Development Manager, working with employers creating brokerage programs and Indigenous employment programs. I help identify areas where employers are experiencing skills shortages and see what type of agreements we can make with them.

It’s about creating as much opportunity for our job seekers as possible.

A young woman that was placed into a role was so nervous during her orientation that she nearly turned around and walked away from the opportunity in front of her – I was so glad that I was there, because after a chat she took that first step into her new life and a month later she was Employee of the Month. We helped her start her career in hospitality and now she is a chef.

I think that one of the things that we all have to remember is we can be proud of what we do. Every time that we get someone into a job we make a real material difference to that person’s life. It’s not just a matter of turning up and doing your job and going home, it’s a matter of turning up and understanding that the interaction you’re having, whether it be with an employer or a candidate, or even with your colleagues, you’re contributing to making a real change in someone’s life.

 

For more information about our recruitment specialist services please visit our Employers page or alternatively contact your nearest Campbell Page Hub.

Posted on

Frankston Relay for Life

Over the weekend of 17th and 18th of September, a Team of Campbell Page employees who operate in the Peninsula, participated in the Frankston Relay for Life.

The event was held at Ballam Park from Saturday the 17th until midday on Sunday the 18th, where the Peninsula Team not only participated in the event itself, but also represented Campbell Page as we were a major sponsor.

The Midnight Marathon is an activity that was held at the Frankston Relay for Life and Campbell Page was delighted to be the major sponsor of this activity. We contributed $300 to the winner of the marathon. – Sarah Ham, Peninsula Business Manager

Throughout the day, the group of Campbell Page employees operated a stall where they provided free career counseling and support to participants, and handed out over 100 free ‘showbags’  that contained healthy snacks. Additionally, direct registration was made available on the spot to eligible participants who were wanting to transform their lives through finding sustainable employment.

Frankston relay for life 2

Frankston Relay for Life raised over $80,000 for the Cancer Council, which is a wonderful effort for our community. It feels good knowing that as an organisation we can contribute to something so beneficial to so many people. I have been asked to sit on the committee next year, which is a great honour, so hopefully we will also see Campbell Page participate in the event once more – Sarah Ham

Relay For Life is a fun and moving overnight experience that raises vital funds for the Cancer Council’s research, prevention, information and support services. Relay is a chance for the Frankston community to recognise and celebrate local cancer survivors, patients and their carers, to honour and remember loved ones lost to cancer and to raise money to help save more lives.

What a great demonstration on community spirit – congratulations to the Campbell Page Teams throughout the Peninsula!

Campbell Page is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming people’s lives through securing long term employment for the most disadvantaged. If you would like to find out more about the work that we do or contact us directly please visit our website.

 

Words by: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au

Posted on

NAIDOC Week on Palm Island

National Aborigines and Islanders Day of Observance Committee – NAIDOC Week – is an important time to acknowledge the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

NAIDOC Week is a great chance for Campbell Page to join with Palm Island members to celebrate the history, achievements and culture of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.

At Palm Island and Townsville NAIDOC Week means understanding, participating and learning from the Palm Islander people on what was, what is and what will be.

Naidoc kids

Campbell Page Activity Supervisors facilitated the NAIDOC week celebrations, that focused on what NAIDOC Week means to the community. One of the most significant celebrations was the traditional dancing and body painting that occured. Campbell Page’s Community Development Program (CDP) conducts an Arts Activity, which saw all participants engage in the creation on event banners, traditional dancing tools and body paint.

Campbell Page is committed to working with our Indigenous people to improve school attendance of children in remote/ isolated areas, connecting people with training, education and employment. We are proud of the activities that our CDP program offers to our participants connecting our people with culturally appropriate activities and services.

Campbell Page is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming people’s lives through securing long term employment. If you would like to find out more about the work we do or contact your closest Campbell Page Hub, please visit our About Us and Contact Us pages.

Words by: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au

Posted on

4 Things to Do While Waiting to Hear Back from Your Job Interview

You’ve done it! You wrote a great resume, landed an interview and made a wonderful first impression – now you have to play the waiting game. Stuck on what to do while waiting to hear back from your job interview?

While it may be a difficult time, these 4 Things to Do While Waiting to Hear back from Your Job Interview should help ease your stress.

1.Be Patient

While you may be a combination of excitement and stress, it is important to be patient. There may have been a number of candidates who interviewed for the same position as you, therefore the reviewing process may take a while.

2.Keep yourself busy

Part of managing the stress that comes from waiting to hear back about a job, is to keep your mind from dwelling on all possible scenarios. The interview is over – you have done (mostly) all you can, why not keep yourself busy doing things that you put off doing while you were preparing for the interview? Cleaning your bathroom may not be your idea of a good time, but it will keep you busy enough to stop you from jumping to conclusions.

3.Follow up 

If you didn’t follow up the day after your interview now is the perfect time. If you did follow up a day or so after the interview, perhaps wait until a week or so has passed and gently and politely ask how long you can expect to wait until you hear back. Remember that too many emails or phone calls may undo all of the work you put into your first impression, so keep it short, and limit yourself.

4.Continue your job search

I’m sure you have heard more times than you can count “not to put all of your eggs in one basket”. This rule applies so perfectly to anyone on the hunt for a job. Waiting to hear back from an interview is no excuse to stop your job search, no matter how well you did in your interview. It is always best to have a back up plan just in case.

Campbell Page is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to making a difference in our communities. If you would like to find out more about what we do, please visit the About Us page on our website or contact us directly.

Words by: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au 

Posted on

Palm Island Success Story

Our Community Development Programme (CDP) is our remote employment and community development service on Palm Island. CDP has two parts; helping people find work,and allowing them to contribute to their communities and gain skills while looking for work.

Corrina Ross is a 20 year old Indigenous woman from Palm Island. Campbell Page CDP assisted Corrina in gaining work ready skills and eventually employment.
While receiving Youth Allowance, Corrina was determined to build her skillet, find long-term employment and give back to her community.

At this point in time, Campbell Page CDP was running a program through the Arts Centre. While Corrina was only a participant in this program for two weeks, she gained confidence in herself, experienced a rise in self-esteem, learnt team building skills and further developed her verbal and nonverbal communication skills.

20141013PalmIsland_354

After these two weeks within the program, Corrina applied for a job with Campbell Page and got it! She came on board in November 2015 and has not slowed down since.

I have worked across a variety of tasks in the company which has given me the opportunity to develop a range of skills and learn about the business at different levels. – Corrina Ross

Employment with Campbell Page has allowed Corrina to stay on Palm Island and assist in developing the community and seeing it thrive. The position has given Corrina financial security and a sense of achievement and belonging.

I wanted to contribute to my community. Gaining employment from the very people who helped me, inspired me to continue the cycle.

Congratulations Corrina! Campbell Page has benefited greatly from having you apart of our CDP Team on Palm Island.

If you would like to find out more about the CDP and our work on Palm Island please visit our Campbell Page website.

Words: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au

Posted on

Palm Island’s BioWicked Garden Project is Well and Truly Underway

This year, the Campbell Page CDP team on Palm Island have been working together to fund the construction of BioWicked garden beds. The garden beds have been located across the community, including at ‘Chook city’, Ferdy’s Haven Rehabilitation Aboriginal Corporation, the Palm Island Children and Family Centre and SOLAS to encourage community engagement.

The largest installations to date have been at the Palm Island Children and Family Centre and Ferdy’s Haven Rehabilitation Aboriginal Corporation. These community sites installed four garden beds consisting of a ‘veggie bed’ with seating and trellising and a built-in worm farm attached to a ‘herb cube’ and a ‘fruit box’. There is also a deeper stand-alone ‘banana box’.

The veggie bed has a large built-in worm farm that recycles food waste and produces nutritious organic food in a climate-friendly manner. The system is being used for community engagement and teaching children both and composting and home food growing.

BioWicked Garden Beds on Palm Island's SOLAS site

The purpose of this activity has been increase local community engagement and involvement in growing fresh fruit and vegetables in their gardens at home. Plans are in place to see 100 garden beds built and planted throughout the next 12 months. It is hoped that these garden beds will benefit the community in regards to employment rates, environmental sustainability and Palm Island residents having access to fresh fruit and vegetables all year round.
Purposefully, the garden beds have been placed in highly visible areas to stimulate community engagement and interest.

Our Work for the Dole participants have enjoyed the opportunity to learn about the process involved in building a sustainable garden. – Samara Hanley, Operations Manager CDP

Currently, the participation rate on this project sits at 25 participants per team, with an 80% attendance rate. This is a huge improvement from previous attendance rates when the project first started, which were at approximately 54%.

Campbell Page is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming lives. If you would like to find out more about Campbell Page or the work we do on Palm Island with our Community Development Program, please visit our About us page, Community page, or alternatively, contact us directly.

Words: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au 

Posted on

Green Army Updates – August 2016

The Green Army continues to grow with over 123 local Green Army projects commenced (89 projects completed).  In July, the programme reached a milestone with the 1000th participant enrolled and in the coming 3 months, an additional 14 projects will commence across NSW and QLD.

The programme is currently awaiting the outcomes of round 5 applications (closed off in June at 165) where over 230 applications were submitted by Campbell Page/Skillset for consideration.  The outcomes of round 5 decisions are likely to be towards the end of October or mid-November 2016.

Over the last 2 months, our projects have engaged in a number of various community activities that expand the participant’s awareness and skillsets, adding great value to their engagement.  Our activities have included:

  • National Tree Day – Green Army Teams participate at many different sites. Eurobodalla Green Army planted over 600 shrubs and trees at Little Lake, Narooma. The planting was organised by Little Lake Landcare member Gillian Kearney to help celebrate National Tree Day in the Eurobodalla Shire.
  • Nursery training visits for plant identification occurred across various sites across both NSW and QLD.
  • Indigenous cultural training and excursions were conducted by various sites.

Green Army's 1000th participant working hard on a local Green Army projects

Official Green Army Project launches:

It’s has been a busy month for the Green Army, launching new projects starting and their teams.  The last two months has seen the programme has commence 11 local Green Army projects across NSW and QLD, some with sitting MP’s officially opening the projects.

Two such examples of sitting MP’s taking a direct hand in launching our local Green Army Projects communicating programme and environmental benefits for the community include the Moggill Creek Catchment officially launched by Federal Member for Ryan the HON. Jane Prentice MP.

In addition, the Green Army this is also a great opportunity for younger people to get training and experience in environment and conservation fields. “The Green Army teams will build on work by Moggill Creek Catchment Group and local landholders to restore the health of Moggill Creek and surrounding habitat, by continuing to control some of the pest weeds in this area, such as Madeira Vine and Cat’s claw creeper. – Jane Prentice MP

Additionally, Holbrook under Landcare’s bushlinks biodiversity project, officially launched by Federal Member for Farrer the HON. Sussan Ley MP.

The initiative is created in partnership with Greater Hume Council, Murray Local Land Services and others, offered 20 to 26 weeks of paid experience.

It’s first and foremost an environmental project, but I see the youth development aspect as equally important. They can do two units of a certificate in conservation and land management and go on and do further units in a second rotation. It’s a great stepping stone. – Sussan Ley MP

August has seen the programme have various community celebrations held for project completing which showcased the achievements of our graduating participants and the local environmental outcomes.   These include:

QLD:

  • Mt Barney stage 1 – undertaken in a national park environment
  • Scenic Rim 5
  • Scenic Rim 6
  • Babinda Creek 2
  • Giddens Creek 2
  • Bundaberg Disaster Recovery 1
  • Mt Barney 1
  • Gladstone Disaster Recovery 1

NSW:

  • Bathurst Woodlands 2
  • Lithgow 2
  • Booligal 2 – Hay Plains
  • Kalyarr 2 – Hay Plains
  • Killalea African Olive 3
  • Killalea Asparagus 3
  • Cumberland Plain 5
  • Cumberland Plain 6
  • Upper Shoalhaven 2

The Green Army is a hands-on, practical environmental action programme that supports local environmental and heritage conservation projects across Australia. It is an Australian Government Programme for young people aged 17–24 years who are interested in protecting their local environment.

Posted on

5 Step Guide to Job Interview Success

So, you have written an incredible resume that has gotten you an interview with a potential employer – now what? Our Guide to Interview Success is exactly what you need.

Often we get so carried away with making ourselves look great on paper that we forget we may then need to present the same confident, hardworking individual in person or over the phone in an interview.

Compiled below is a 5 Step Guide to Interview Success that will help you make an excellent first impression.

  1. Prep! Prep! Prep!

Once the initial excitement of being offered an interview has worn off you must now begin to think about the process of the interview itself. What will you be asked? What is the company background? Practicing your answers to commonly asked interview questions is a great way to prepare yourself and decide on what your main points about why you are the right person for the job will be.
We recommend doing your homework well before your interview date, not on the way to the interview, as this will give you a much better chance at interview success.

  1. Dress to Impress

Aim to dress professionally, yet suitable for the position you are interviewing for. For example an extremely corporate outfit might seem a little overdressed for a job interview if the position does not call for you to dress similarly each day. At the same time it is important not to under-dress. Wearing a singlet or old tee shirt with shorts and thongs is too casual to be deemed professional at any job interview. If you are going for a job at a local retail outlet a collared shirt with dress pants or a tailored and non-revealing dress would be suitable.

  1. Arrive Early

Plan out your day around the interview. Will you be driving, walking or taking public transport? How long will it take via your chosen transportation method to arrive at your destination? You have probably heard the phrase, “If you are not 15 minutes early, you are already late” – this can be a tricky one as some employers will enjoy your eagerness, while others will feel rushed to get to you. In any case, arriving early is a great way to show not only your eagerness for the position but it demonstrates a great work ethic, which could lend way to interview success. If the interviewer is not ready for you, it also gives you a few minutes to compose yourself.

  1. Non-verbal Communication is Key

Non-verbal communication is as important as verbal communication. When you first meet your interviewer you should stand, smile and create eye contact before giving a strong (dry!) handshake. No matter how nervous you are it is important to make eye contact with your interviewer whenever they are speaking to you, or you are speaking to them. It demonstrates respect and illustrates that you are listening and taking in everything they say. Smiling during the interview is also a great way to relax yourself and make both you and the interviewer feel comfortable.

  1. Follow up the interview

Regardless of how you think the interview went, it is polite to send a follow up email or note thanking the interviewer for their time. It is not only polite, but not all individuals who were interviewed will do so, so it will make you stand out even more than you already have. You should do so after the interview, but it shouldn’t be the first thing you do when you leave. Wait a day or two, as the interviewer’s mind is more likely to be clear, rather than foggy after interviewing 6-10 other people that day.

Good luck!

Campbell Page is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to making a difference in our communities. If you would like to find out more about what we do, please visit the About Us page on our website or contact us directly.

Words by: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au