Blackwoods is committed to increasing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team members, suppliers, contractors and the broader community through a wide range of activities. Here's just a few of our Indigenous team members who are celebrating NAIDOC this week.
Ashley started his Blackwoods journey by walking into the store to drop off his resume. A few days later he was called in for a chat, and it wasn't long before he was picking goods from the shelves. Soon after he was the Team Leader of the exact same warehouse he'd walked into with a cover letter and a can-do attitude.
While his beginning with the business what quite analogue, Ashley's passion lies in the digital realm. Analytics, stock movement, stock control and solving the infinite inventory problems which come up in an Australia wide network is Ashley's passion, and his forte. He has implemented wireless warehousing, and manned trade counters. His journey has taken him everywhere from Townsvile to Darwin, with Ashley super-subbing in for many different roles, always ready to put the business first.
Ash is proud of the positive customer feedback on the improvements made at the Blackwoods Carins branch, along with Blackwoods real contribution to the local community. As a respected community volunteer Ashley revels in sharing his culture during NAIDOC Week and National Reconciliation Week celebrations.
Last year, when Ashley's son, Jayden, started thinking about life after high school, he discussed with his manager the possibility of a school-based traineeship through the Clontarf Foundations. Things moved very quickly, and within a few months the next generation was also wearing Blackwoods colours. Current reports are that he has already settled in well.
"I am so proud of Jayden for taking on this new challenge and adapting well to the work environment and it is great to see the team supporting him just as they have supported me through the good times and bad over the years".
Beginning as a Career Trackers intern, then moving into our graduate program, and now working as a member of our marketing team, Nathan Gardiner didn't know what to expect when arriving at Blackwoods head office.
""I'd only ever worked blue collar jobs, so I didn't know what the corporate world would be like, and if I'd fit in. Being the world's oldest intern only added to the nerves."
However, he soon discovered that the white collars at Blackwoods definitely had a lot of blue in them.
"The people here is what keeps me starting the days with a smile on my face. They aren't just work mates, they are mates that I work with, and I'm stoked to be a part of it."