GJK Facility Services and Killara Services have won the Diversity Award at the 2021 Property Council of Australia’s Innovation & Excellence Awards for businesses of more than 250 employees.
The award acknowledges the leadership GJK and Killara Services demonstrate in engaging, employing and empowering Indigenous Australians through its business operations.
“We are immensely proud to take home the 2021 Diversity Award from the Property Council of Australia,” said Elias Stamas, CEO of GJK Facility Services.
“GJK and Killara Services have put in place some powerful Indigenous engagement programs over the past few years, which has gone a long way to improving the economic welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“These actions have made us one of the most respected and attractive employers of Aboriginal people in our industry.”
One of 19 award categories, the Diversity Award recognises the positive contribution made by organisations within the property industry that demonstrate a holistic and long-term commitment to diversity.
The judging criteria was based on diversity leadership, building a diverse talent pool and creating an inclusive workplace, and applying innovation to achieve diversity.
In 2017, GJK founder, George Stamas, co-created Killara Services (then GJK Indigenous Solutions) as a joint venture business with Jasmine Newman.
Killara Services achieved commercial independence in 2021 and is now a certified Indigenous business in its own right.
Killara Services has the vision of being one of the largest Aboriginal owned and operated cleaning companies in Australia.
Today, Killara Services creates opportunities for hundreds of Aboriginal people through employment and career pathways. It delivers cleaning, waste, hygiene, pest, grounds and cultural awareness training to customers across Australia.
In the judgement period of 2019/2020, GJK and Killara Services achieved outstanding results in workplace diversity and promoting Indigenous engagement in our industry.
Killara Services achieved a 38 per cent Indigenous engagement rate across the company.
In a large Defence cleaning contract, Killara Services had more than 50 per cent Indigenous participation in employment, completed 27 formal traineeships and supported Indigenous suppliers, earning them the award for Aboriginal Business of the Year in the Defence Industry Awards in 20201.
In the innovation space, GJK undertake several sponsorship opportunities to support Indigenous participation in our industry, including sponsoring one Indigenous student per year for the FMA scholarship – Diploma of Facilities Management.
In addition to its own Indigenous engagement strategies, GJK has set objectives to achieve greater gender balance, pay equity and opportunities for disadvantaged Australians.
One initiative is the Public Tenant Employment Program, where it has enabled changes for tenant employees since 2003.
“We have seen first-hand how transformative our work to support Indigenous and disadvantaged people can be. GJK and Killara Services are true champions of change, and it is wonderful for us to be recognised by the peak body in the property industry.”
Comment below to have your say on this story.
If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at info@incleanmag.com.au
Sign up to INCLEAN’s newsletter.
