Red on partnering with APM to champion diversity

Red had been with Compass Group Australia for just four months when she sat down to talk with Ellie.

Yet, in this short time, she had already made a significant impact by championing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

A dynamic unit manager at the Air New Zealand lounge in Perth International Airport, her partnership with APM has been instrumental in this journey.

"The broader the spectrum of people that you get to work with, you learn so much more. It's just invigorating and enriching," Red says.

Her journey with APM began through a recommendation from her key accounts manager, Elizabeth, who spoke highly of Austin from APM.

"Elizabeth is quite dynamic and energetic, and when she recommended meeting Austin, I was like, OK, I want a piece of that action," Red recalls.

Red's collaboration with APM was driven by a desire to embrace diversity and inclusion within her team.

"We just talked about what APM can do, how it can reach out, how it can support the people industry that I'm in and how we could help each other," she explains.

This partnership quickly bore fruit, with APM providing fantastic candidates who seamlessly integrated into Red's team.

"Instantly, I landed three individuals that help me within the lounge and also with our new hosting contract," she says.

Navigating the complexities of employing people with disabilities or from diverse backgrounds can be challenging, but Red emphasises the importance of honesty and transparency.

"Keep it honest, transparent, and clear so that if there's ever a point that you're not sure about, the door is always open," she advises.

This approach ensures that any uncertainties are addressed promptly, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

Red also highlights the importance of tolerance and understanding.

"You need to sometimes stop and remember that not everyone is the same. And most people that you employ, if you employ them the right way and you do your due diligence, you're going to hire people that have good hearts," she says.

For Red, hiring people with good hearts is key to building a strong, cohesive team.

To other organisations considering stepping into the space of employing people with disability or from diverse backgrounds, Red's advice is clear: "Absolutely open your doors. I don't think there's anything to lose at all. I think there's everything to gain."

She firmly believes that embracing diversity leads to more rewarding outcomes and enriches the workplace.

By creating an inclusive environment, businesses can support people with disability and benefit from the unique perspectives and strengths they bring to the team.

"I can't advocate it enough," Red says.

Ellie Cole’s Couch

In this incredible series, Ellie sat down with team members from across APM to discuss how their own experience with disability motivates and inspires them to support people with disability.

See more of these conversations and how APM’s diverse and dedicated team members deliver on our shared purpose of enabling better lives, on the Our people page.