Local Partnerships take on a whole new strength
15 February 2006
Working with big business has proven to be a win-win situation for Karingal employment arm, Kommercial and local organisations, Alcoa and Shell.
Recent announcements by both Alcoa and Shell to expand their involvement with the disability services organisation, set up healthy long term relationships as well as improve both businesses and the local area.
Kommercial have had staff working at the Alcoa Point Henry Smelter for almost 12 years, as well as taking care of all the garden and land care maintenance. Advancements in technology and mechanization meant that a number of jobs undertaken by Kommercial crew were disappearing.
But Alcoa’s commitment to retaining Kommercial employees on the team, meant finding new jobs that could be managed by the crews. As a result, Alcoa has almost doubled the work being contracted to Kommercial.
But the good news for MLI doesn’t stopped there. Shell Geelong Refinery, another vital partner of Kommercial, is expanding its contract in an environmental upgrade that will see over 60,000 trees added to the Shell site.
“Kommercial has been working with us since 2004 and we’re delighted at the highly professional way the crew performs,” said Joan McGovern, Shell Geelong Refinery External Affairs Manager.
“We are looking forward to expanding our involvement with Kommercial to protect environmental values and enhance the visual appearance of the buffer zone.”
Shell’s vision to create a plantation around the refinery has meant that Kommercial employees will be contracted to work three days a week, a two day a week increase to their workload.
“Industrial settings like the Shell Refinery provide perfect opportunities for our crews to partake in important, highly valued work,” said Karen Rainbow, Kommercial General Manager.
The environmental upgrade includes the planting of trees, and collecting and removing litter from around the fenceline of the Corio site.
“Based on our experiences with Kommercial we’d certainly encourage other Geelong businesses to engage their services,” said Ms McGovern.