Culture, Trust and Togetherness
Green Yakka Zero Waste Staff
GOAL THREE
A Message from Our People & Culture Manager, Anthony Rohr
In FY25, we were proud to directly give employment opportunities to 822 people – 70% of them while experiencing barriers to work and an additional 138 people through our growing employment program ‘Strive for Success’. For me, that’s what this goal is all about. No matter where someone is starting from, they deserve a workplace where they feel safe, included and supported to grow. That’s why culture, trust and togetherness have stayed front and centre this year, and why we’ve put extra energy into strengthening them.
“When people feel safe and supported at work, it doesn’t just make a difference for them – it flows out to their families, their communities, and the places where we live and work. That’s the impact we’re here to create.”
Anthony Rohr – People & Culture Manager
Safety
Safety has always been a focus for us, but this year we kept building on it and empowering teams to take ownership. More people are speaking up, sharing responsibility, and supporting each other on the job. Some of our highlights include:
ISO Certification
Community Resources and Resource Recovery Australia achieved certification under three internationally recognised ISO standards – ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety), ISO 14001:2016 (Environmental Management) and ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management) – confirming that our operations meet global benchmarks.
LTIFR Reduction
Our Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) dropped significantly, with a reduction of almost 50% – reflecting safer worksites and faster recoveries.
Better Reporting
Since introducing QR code reporting and the launch of our quality management platform Logiqc, the average number of reports per month has increased by 38% – a clear sign that staff are more engaged and proactive about safety.
Return to Work
Bringing return-to-work planning in-house has dramatically reduced time lost to injuries, with improved communication between P&C Partners, managers and staff leading to smoother transitions back to work.
Toolbox Talks & Insights
21 toolbox topics were delivered across CR, sparking discussions and hazard awareness on every site. We also launched a monthly WHS Insights meeting, giving all businesses a space to share learnings and collaborate on improvements.
Raise Your Hand
Our simple but powerful initiative continues to prevent injuries by encouraging staff to pause and ask for help before a task becomes unsafe.
Cyber Safety
Regular ICT-led training has strengthened staff ability to spot phishing attempts and protect both personal and organisational data.
Inclusion
Every day we work alongside people from different cultural, language and life experiences – and that diversity is one of our greatest strengths.
Our model is built on creating employment for people who face barriers, including former refugees, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, young people and others excluded from the workforce. We support them through mentoring, training and culturally safe workplaces.
Key moments this year gave us the chance to connect, learn and celebrate together:
- Refugee Week: We recognised the 149 former refugees employed across CR, reflecting on the role meaningful work plays in building belonging and opportunity.
- NAIDOC Week: Staff across CR proudly wore their CR designed NAIDOC shirts, attended local events, and shared photos for our organisation-wide collage – a tradition that connects everyone, no matter where they work.
- International Women’s Day: Women leaders from across CR shared inspiring reflections on the barriers still to remove and the lessons they carry forward.
- Year-Round Cultural Awareness: We adapt worksites and rosters to respect cultural and religious needs – from Ramadan schedules and prayer breaks to respecting time for Sorry Business and other cultural responsibilities – so inclusion becomes part of everyday work.
Our People Thriving
Every day, we see staff growing in confidence, learning new skills and finding a real sense of belonging. Some take on new roles within CR, while others transition to opportunities beyond our organisation – proof that our model creates real, lasting pathways into meaningful work.
- Take Liam, a young Aboriginal man who started at RRA as a Work for the Dole participant straight out of school in 2020. Liam gained his forklift and loader licences, became a full-time employee, and managed a section of the site. In FY25, he transitioned into a traineeship in the health industry – his dream field.
- Amber started work with us as a Depot Hand and after 4 month she was identified as an excellent candidate for a council apprenticeship in the waste industry. She successfully secured the role in June 2025.
When people feel safe and supported at work, it doesn’t just make a difference for them – it flows out to their families, their communities, and the places where we live and work. That’s the impact we’re here to create.
