AME
is a top employer – The Ararat Advertiser - Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Pictured celebrating AME Systems' award, from left Joan
Studd from Best Community Development,
Ararat Rural City Mayor Cr Ian Wilson and AME Systems general manager Christian
Carthew
Ararat’s AME Systems has been awarded Champion Employer of the Year by the National Employment Services Association.
The announcement was made at the 8th National NESA Conference awards dinner, held last Tuesday night at the Coolum Hyatt.
AME General Manager Christian Carthew attended the awards
with the company’s HR Manager
Best Community Development’s Joan Studd also attended the conference.
Julie McDougall, area manager and Joan Studd, team leader, from the Ararat Best Community Development office, entered AME Systems in the awards.
Best Community Development is an organisation which works with employers to get unemployed into jobs.
The Ararat office works with AME Systems to get job seekers across the region into employment.
The affiliation has seen 149 people gain employment with AME Systems in the last financial year.
Mr Carthew said he did not realise how big the awards were. “We were shocked when we walked into the room,” he said.
More than 700 people attended the awards ceremony, which saw AME Systems up against two other finalists in the Champion Employer of the Year category.
One finalist was Lifeline Gold Coast, which on top of manning call centres, distributes and sells donated goods at 10 stores around the area.
The other finalist was Richards Mining Services, based just
out of
Mr Carthew was not expecting the win, but was delighted to
accept the award at the
Ararat Rural City Mayor Cr Ian Wilson presented the award to Mr Carthew at a staff assembly on Friday.
With more than 340 staff employed at AME, the room was packed. “It really takes your breath away, seeing just how many people are employed here,” Cr Wilson said.
Mr Carthew talked to the staff about the importance of winning the award.
He said it was a team effort that ‘recognised the staff work hard and do the right thing’.
“Most people were amazed and astounded at the work that goes on down here,” Mr Carthew said.
Mr Carthew said the award also demonstrated everyone was working together to build the business and strengthen opportunities.
Awards organiser Liz Rivers said AME Systems’ commitment to helping people make the transition from job seekers to employees played a big part in their win..
“They had a great level of commitment….being able to go the extra mile and put in place so many different mentoring programs,” Mrs Rivers said.
The judging panel was also impressed with the in-depth induction course AME holds for new employees, which Mr Carthew said involves three days of one on one training, skills development and meeting team leaders and other staff.
The company also boasts a high retention rate for both short term staff and regular employees.
The level of commitment AME showed to people in Ararat and surrounds also impressed judges.
Mrs Rivers said the Ararat based company was in a much harder work environment compared to businesses based in metropolitan areas.
“It’s an incredible accolade to them for their contribution and support to jobseekers,” Mrs Rivers said.