Officeworks’
relationship with
MEGT leads the
way on diversity
In early 2017, Glenn McPherson,
then Senior Store Business
Manager at Officeworks Richmond
and Chirnside (Vic), got involved
in a recruitment project that
led to a secondment to Human
Resources at Support Office.
Part of his objective was to help
drive diversity at Officeworks and
thereby achieve Wesfarmers’
Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)
target of 3% Indigenous team
members by 2020.
Glen identified a shortage of
candidates in our talent pool that
could help Officeworks achieve
these targets and align the
right candidate for roles within
the organisation. Seizing the
opportunity, he identified potential
employment partners to help
establish sustainable recruitment
and retention of Indigenous team
members. One of these partners was
not-for-profit organisation MEGT.
MEGT provides active support for
Indigenous candidates throughout
their career journey, from identifying
suitable career options through
attitude and aptitude testing, to
providing mediation, mentoring
and support once employment has
been secured. More importantly,
they know their candidates well
and can tell their stories as they
have a genuine commitment to
each of them.
This sustainable approach to
reconciliation through employment
resonate well with Officeworks’ own
guiding principles and purpose as
MEGT time and again demonstrates
great integrity and determination to
help make bigger things happen for
their communities.
Turnover among Indigenous team
members is higher than the national
average for a number of reasons,
this is why the added support
provided by MEGT to candidates is
so important.
Wurundjeri Elder or head man, Murrundindi
shares his culture with guests at the MEGT
Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan launch event
at the Healesville Sanctuary (Vic).
14
In the 18 months since the
partnership launched, MEGT
has helped Officeworks interview
31 candidates and recruit
17 Indigenous team members,
and Officeworks is actively working
to retain more indigenous team
members and reduce turnover
by 50%.
MEGT Stretch Reconciliation
Action Plan launch event 2018
Due to our unwavering commitment
to reconciliation, diversity and
our partnership with MEGT, the
not-for-profit invited Glenn to
represent Officeworks at the
launch celebration for their Stretch
Reconciliation Action Plan in June.
“Attending the MEGT Stretch
Reconciliation Action Plan was very
rewarding for me. I gained insight
into the organisation’s history and
plans for the future. It made me very
proud to hear about the positive
influence and impact Officeworks
have had in their communities at
such a milestone event. Especially
knowing the role I played to help
establish the relationship.”
Who are MEGT?
MEGT is a not-for-profit
organisation committed
to developing sustainable
and ongoing employment
opportunities for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples, as
well as culturally aware support
for employers. Learn more
about their approach and
commitments at megt.com.au/
first-australians