Sustainability Report 2006/07Case study: Making a positive difference
Peter O’Bree last worked at Melbourne Water in the old Board of Works days. Returning recently as Team Leader, Northern Operations, he is surprised and delighted by the changes he finds.
“It’s communication, the way people talk to each other,” he says. “Everyone is more cooperative, on a more equal footing. “(Managing Director) Rob Skinner, for example, will come out and talk to the water supply operators on an equal level.
If someone makes a mistake, they feel no need to try and hide it. They can speak up and work through how to rectify it without reprisal.” Peter puts this down to an improved workplace culture. He describes Melbourne Water as a positive and constructive place to work. Joanne Hand (pictured), a River Health Program Leader, has noticed a real difference in the two years she has worked for Melbourne Water.
“I have seen the benefits colleagues can get from behaving constructively, both personally and professionally,” she says. “We work more closely together and really help each other along.
For our team, this has meant that we move through tasks more quickly, with high quality finished products because they have been developed as a collective group. It has been a great opportunity for people to get to know each other and feel confident and supported enough to share new and different ideas.
“It has helped me to develop my leadership skills and better understand not only the strengths in my personality, but also the areas I need to work on.” Joanne says that the preferred culture program has given her an opportunity for personal and professional development, and its importance is recognised throughout the organisation.
“It is also great to be able to more formally recognise the development of this culture through performance and development plans,” she says.
