b'01ABSC APPROVED RECYCLER Pathway to SuccessSoft Landing has received accreditation under the Australian Bedding Stewardship Council (ABSC) as an ABSC Approved Recycler. We are one of only six ABSC Approved Recyclers in Australia, a testament to the strength and legitimacy of our work.ABSC is a not-for-profit entity formally endorsed by the02government to develop and implement a whole-of-lifecycle approach for mattresses and bedding. ABSC Approval is available to mattress recyclers who ensure safe and environmentally responsible collection, storage and recycling of end-of-life mattresses and their component materials and operate under the schemes guidelines and code of conduct. With mattresses added to the Ministers Product Stewardship Priority List for 2022-23, our partnership with the ABSC is critical for us to raise the standards of how mattress recyclers must work and to continue playing a leading role in community narratives around product stewardship. Garry Beard, ABSC Chair says, The ABSC has a strong and03long-standing relationship with Soft Landing. We recognise the great work they do in providing a responsible solution for end-of-life mattresses and really support their efforts. Soft Landing was the first to become an ABSC Approved Mattress Recycler and we look forward to continued collaboration to keep mattresses out of landfill. IN NEEDSUPPORTED WORKACHIEVINGBAYSWATER (VIC) ILLAWARRA (NSW)RECRUITMENT TRAINING & SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES04Our experienced Soft Landing Victoria teamSoft Landing Illawarra celebrated milestoneApproximately 75% of theWe provide essential siteWe support staff to upskill have a long history of working together toachievements in FY23, reaching 12 yearspeople we recruit at Softtraining plus ongoing formaland secure permanent work. recycle mattresses. In FY23, they continued toin business in Wollongong, collecting andLanding have barriers toand informal training toEmployment pathways can employment. Many havedevelop work readiness andinclude moving into new deliver great service and positive outcomesrecycling over 200,000 mattresses in this time.multiple and complexindustry skills. We look at theroles within Soft Landing and for people and planet, collecting over 80,000Its a credit to the Illawarra team, who work hard,barriers to gaining andbig picture to make a realCommunity Resources or mattresses and diverting over 1,500 tonnes ofusing their hands to manually strip mattresses withmaintaining paid work. difference in peoples lives. externally.waste from landfill. our Soft Landing method, saving up to 75% of all The people we support include:We support people to:Success stories include: These results are made possible by the leadership ofmattress components to maximise the amount ofRefugees & migrant workersAttain Forklift, Truck, and HRSeveral staff transitioned Operations Manager Steve Maizels, who cultivates awaste we divert from landfill. Together, the teamlicensesfrom the Work for the Dole have diverted over 3,600 tonnes of waste fromAboriginal and Torres Strait 05 supportive environment to increase retention of staff;landfill over 12 years. Islander people Learn administration skillsprogram to management0540% of our Victorian team have been with us for ten05years or more, and 20% have been with us for over Correctional facility leaversImprove time managementpositions within Soft Landing; The site remains, as ever, community- another secured a role in the three years.focused, providing local jobs toPeople with disabilitiesDevelop positive workingAustralian Army SOFT LANDING Our low staff turnover ensures we provide a seamless,local people who need it most whilePeople experiencing mentalrelationshipsMany staff have used theirSOFT LANDINGreliable service, which is critical to retaining long-termworking with Illawarra residents illnessShare new ideas and buildtraining to gain external business with our major customers, like the local councilsto keep mattresses out Young people confidence employment in steelwork, we work with. This reliability was fundamental to ourof landfill and preserve Access our Employeeconstruction and mining successful extension of our partnership with Cleanawaythe coastal regions Long-term unemployed for another 12 months, and it will continue to serve usnatural beauty. peopleAssistance Program (EAP) andAn ACT staff member attained well with future partnerships. Work for the Dole participants relevant external serviceshis HR license, then moved We create a safe and inclusiveinto permanent employment Our site managers andenvironment, encouragingwith BlueScope; another supervisors work with eachpeople to ask for help andmoved to a role with BHP06person to understand theirsupporting them to overcomeNumerous staff have strengths, interests and barriersbarriers and thrive both in andremained at Soft Landing Above: Jason Heron, Site Manager,Soft Landing Hume and provide a comprehensiveout of the workplace. long-term, benefitting from the understanding of Soft Landing. PAGE 44 supportive environment and meaningful work.'