Our Diversity and Inclusion Journey
Our goal is to make money work for everyone. To do that, working at Credit Union SA must work for everyone.
That’s why we’re on a continuous journey to create a workplace that embraces individual differences and gives people of all backgrounds and circumstances the support they need to thrive and grow.
Inclusion isn’t a destination – it’s a journey that requires ongoing commitment and focus. As part of this journey, we want to share our diversity and inclusion progress so far, while also looking at how some of these initiatives will evolve in the future.
Respecting Aboriginal history and culture
While our focus has always been community, in recent years we have been on an important journey to take meaningful action towards change including Aboriginal Cultural Sensitivity & Respect Training, Commencement of our first Reconciliation Action Plan and implementing an Acknowledgement of Country statement. It's a process we have not taken lightly and while we know there is more for us to do, we are hopeful about what it means to take these steps.
All Credit Union SA staff take part Aboriginal Cultural Sensitivity and Respect Training. This training covers a range of important topics, including:
- identifying the gap;
- implementing change;
- culturally sensitive terminology;
- understanding Aboriginal Australia;
- facing the facts: historical and contemporary;
- identity and Aboriginality; and
- racism and privilege.
The training creates awareness and understanding of Aboriginal Australians’ history and culture and provides opportunities for us all to examine and challenge our own personal values and attitudes. This training is part of standard onboarding for all new staff, ensuring everyone who works for us has the same education opportunity and can contribute to our efforts towards reconciliation.
With help and guidance from Reconciliation SA, we have implemented an Acknowledgment of Country statement as part of our website, social media accounts, email signatures, office building, Member Experience Centre, meeting rooms and in spoken form at the beginning of our events and meetings.
We think it’s an important step to show respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage and the ongoing relationship of traditional owners with the land.
We want to build on the foundations our history provides to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to establish connection and support reconciliation. To guide this process, we have developed a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) as a focused effort to strengthen our organisational knowledge and guide our practices to improve our capabilities and meet our obligations for reconciliation in the community.
Over the past 12 months we have been on an important journey to make meaningful change and commence our first RAP: Reflect. It's a process we have not taken lightly and while we know there is more for us to do, we are hopeful about what it means to take these steps.
Reconciliation Action Plan: Reflect
To support the continued development of our RAP, we aim to strengthen the knowledge of our staff through regular education and further our engagement with First Nations stakeholders to seek guidance and advice.
The implementation of our RAP is supported through our RAP working group, which includes a range of team members from across the organisation, our CEO and other members of the Executive Leadership team to ensure deliverables are rolled out across the organisation and supported by the leadership team who will demonstrate their commitment through action.
The next stage of our RAP journey includes planning for an Innovate RAP, which is in its early stages of implementation.
Credit Union SA have an active People and Culture Committee that, through collaboration with the organisation as whole, have provided opportunities for staff engagement since 2021 through education and activities including, but not limited, to: National Sorry Day, National Reconciliation Week and a sponsorship with Reconciliation SA.
Our staff leave policies
Our core purpose is to help South Australians thrive. We believe a big part of achieving this is by putting People First, including our own.
That’s why we implement leave policies such as Thrive Day and Birthday Leave that encourage our team to celebrate individuality.
As part of our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, we revised our Parental Leave Policy. The revised Parental Leave Policy now supports all full-time, part-time and eligible casual staff with Employer Funded Paid Parental and Partner Leave.
This is paid in addition to the Australian Government provided Parental Leave Pay.
We give our people the freedom to celebrate and observe the days that matter most to them through our Public Holiday Exchange Policy. This includes the choice to switch the Public Holiday on 26 January for an alternative day off, as we recognise it’s not a day of celebration for many people.
Our policy is all about embracing individual differences and giving people of all backgrounds the support they need to thrive and grow in our workplace.
We know that many people like to celebrate their birthday with friends and loved ones. Our gift to our staff is a paid day off for their birthday so they can do just that!
We have taken further action to support our people by increasing our Family and Domestic Violence Leave from 10 days to 20 days. This gives people and their families more time to seek help without risking their income.
We recognise that we still have a lot of work ahead of us, but we’re committed to helping those impacted by domestic and family violence so that the decision between safety and financial security is not one that they need to make.
Our core purpose is to help South Australians thrive. We believe a big part of achieving this is by putting people first, including our own.
That’s why we introduced Thrive Day leave, where our people can take an extra four days off a year (one each quarter) to pursue any activity they choose - it's a time to celebrate individuality.
Diversity and Inclusion
South Australia is diverse and it's important to us that our organisation not only reflects this, but celebrates it.
Our Diversity and Inclusion policies aim to ensure we are empathetic, collaborative, and respectful in how we lead and work here at Credit Union SA.
From supporting important social causes to prioritising training and support, we know that what makes us unique is what makes us special and we're committed to creating a safe environment for our staff to be themselves.
We are committed to ensuring that all people seeking employment and those who are employees are treated fairly and equitably and are not subjected to any form of unlawful discrimination or harassment. We are also responsible for ensuring our employees are aware of their rights and obligations in relation to our Equal Opportunity Policy.
At Credit Union SA, we are committed to closing the gender pay gap and incorporate this focus in all decisions relating to recruitment, talent management and succession planning.
In support of our efforts towards gender equity, Credit Union SA already has in place:
- Targets for women leadership roles
- Diverse representation in our recruitment and selection
- A transparent remuneration policy
- Career and development planning
- Internal and external professional development
- Leadership development
- Flexible work arrangements
- Structured support for work-life balance
- Well-being support
- An Employee Assistance Program
- Equal paid parental leave
- Family and domestic violence leave (20 days)
- Additional leave of 5 days (Thrive Days and Birthday Leave)
- Talent and Succession Planning
- Corporate membership with Diversity Council Australia
- We’re Equal Commitment - Commissioner of Equal Opportunity
Credit Union SA joined WE'RE EQUAL in February 2023 to actively support safe and inclusive environments across South Australia.
WE’RE EQUAL is an initiative of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity and helps local businesses show that they have made a commitment to zero tolerance for discrimination, bullying, and harassment by signing and displaying a Statement of Commitment, and communicating their stance to customers, staff, contractors, and suppliers.
All Credit Union SA staff attend Diversity and Inclusion training. This training explores unconscious bias and shows us how we can all be more inclusive in our day-to-day. Leadership staff have also taken part in further training that focuses on how to be an inclusive leader in everyday communications and actions.
We think it’s hugely important that we are empathetic, collaborative, and respectful in how we lead and work here at Credit Union SA.
That’s why we will continue to provide new recruits with the same education opportunities. This way, everyone has the knowledge they need to contribute to an inclusive workplace.
People, culture and development
Being a member-owned organisation creates a sense of belonging and freedom to be ourselves - and to do things and act differently when it makes sense to do so in the best interest of our members. It’s why our Values reflect our beliefs and principles as an organisation – they are at the heart of what we do and who we are; and how we come together every day.
We help South Australians thrive by putting our People First, Striving to Achieve and Being Our Best every day.
Our People and Culture Committee is made up of staff from all different areas within the organisation.
The Committee strengthens our commitment to diversity and inclusion by looking at ways we can celebrate, acknowledge, and get involved in significant events throughout the year.
We have celebrated or acknowledged numerous events and culturally significant days:
- International Women’s Day;
- Ramadan;
- Harmony Day;
- Domestic Violence Prevention Month;
- IDAHOBIT;
- Reconciliation Week; and
- World Environment Day.
...just to name a few!
We've implemented an annual Family Fun Day for our hard-working team and their families. It's wonderful for everyone to get together and enjoy great food, coffee, games and live music in a relaxed atmosphere.
We've found that it's a really nice opportunity for people to learn more about one another and helps us to create a greater sense of belonging, which is so important to us here at Credit Union SA.
We know that we have a fabulous team that does great work every day! That’s why we have Purpose and Values eCards that we encourage all staff to send within the organisation to acknowledge when our purpose and values are being brought to life.
We want to understand what it really means for people to work at Credit Union SA across our different collectives. That’s why we routinely run Workplace Culture Surveys.
After each survey has been conducted, our team creates an action plan based on the survey results and staff debriefing sessions. This plan includes ways we can create a more diverse and inclusive work environment, as well as ways we can improve in our key focus areas.
Our Social Club Committee organises and promotes out-of-work events and activities where our staff can celebrate and have a good time together, as well as invite their loved ones! All Credit Union SA staff, including Social Club members, non-members and plus ones, are welcome to attend Social Club events throughout the year.
We actively encourage and support our community, and that’s why our staff are provided with opportunities to share their time and skills through volunteering with organisations close to our heart.
Health and wellbeing
We strongly believe in fostering an environment where people can come together to achieve their very best.
To help our staff achieve this, we’ve set up a range of great initiatives and programs to ensure our staff can maintain a balanced life and stay healthy, both inside and outside the workplace.
Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a 24/7 confidential counselling service available to our staff and their immediate family members
Our EAP is designed to provide professional support, reduce distress and help all of our people be at their best, supporting a positive workplace culture. It can be for personal or work-related advice, because we recognise that sometimes it’s good to talk to an expert.
All of our First Aiders are also trained in Mental Health First Aid and provide more immediate support for staff within the workplace. This initiative further supports our staff wellbeing and strengthens our commitment to maintain a healthy workplace.
We recognise the importance of Work Health and Safety. The most valuable asset to our organisation is our people, whose health and safety are a top priority.
The WHS Committee promote the importance of WHS with managers and employees of Credit Union SA. The Committee is a critical consultation forum, whilst the Board of Directors remains the definite decision-making forum for Credit Union SA.
All Credit Union SA staff are given the opportunity to take part in ongoing wellbeing and resilience training, focusing on building skills and behaviours to promote mental health, increase self-compassion and manage stress.
Additionally, all staff have access to a free on-site fitness centre. Some teams have even used their weekly team meetings to enjoy a workout session together!
This is on top of wellbeing initiatives we already have in place, including our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a 24/7 confidential counselling service available to our staff and their immediate family members. All of our First Aiders are also trained in Mental Health First Aid and provide more immediate support for staff within the workplace. This initiative further supports our staff wellbeing and strengthens our commitment to maintain a healthy workplace.
To help our employees thrive, we recognise the importance of flexible working arrangements in maintaining an inclusive, diverse and adaptable workforce. We embraced remote working for the work-life balance opportunities it provides for our staff. We are proud to offer flexible working arrangements to our people and continue to make conditional remote working an option for all new roles going forward, so everyone can fit work comfortably around their lives.