Breaking the glass ceiling

When first searching for my professional placement, I reviewed the area of PR in which most suited my interests. Being a Journalism student, I decided to apply at a few local newspapers and various fashion magazines. It never really occurred to me, that I’d be completing my placement in an entirely different industry.  I had never worked in the disabilities or mental illness sector before and I was about to embark on ( not to sound cliché) a life changing experience.

Workpower Incorporated is one of Western Australia’s leading community benefits organisations, providing a range of support services and programs for people with disability and people with mental illness. Workpower offers services across the metropolitan area and the Peel Mandurah region.  Workpower includes 5 separate brand divisions which includes QualipacPlus , EMS, Greenapple, Aspire and Explore Leisure. Each division with different roles including employment for manufacturing or environmental rehabilitation and other divisions offered pre-employment support,  skill development and supported holidays.

On my first day of Induction at Workpower I learnt the values of ethical behaviour and its importance within the company. This was quite interesting to me, as from my previous studies and research I am finding that there is a historical trend in Public Relations all things unethical- lying and spin-doctoring. Many critics argue that there can be no ethical public relations because the practice itself is akin to manipulation and propaganda. However with my part in Workpower Incorporated, I want to be able to change the stereotyped view of some critics and embrace values such as honesty, openness, fairness, loyalty, integrity and fourthright communication.

Throughout the 2 day induction, we met the CEO Shane O’Conner of Company and Executive General Manager Lee Broomhall. Lee has worked for Workpower for the past 14 years and is responsible for the People, Performance and Strategy division. I saw Lee Broomhall and quite an empowering figure for women. In the unit International Public Relations, I remember reading an article called ‘breaking the glass ceiling’, which conveyed that there was still such a large disparity between managerial roles of men over women in the business industry.

Lee’s  inspirational role and her leadership is instrumental in Workpower's continued success and recognition in the WA Business News Best Employer Awards; Workpower won the award in 2009 and was a top 3 finalist in 2010. Lee was awarded the WA winner of the marie claire Young Business Women's Award, as part of the prestigious Telstra Business Women's Awards in 2010.  Her success and position in the company caused me to believe that maybe women were finally speaking up to change their position in the workforce. In the Journal article, it spoke of women not being able to fill managerial roles due too their lack of assertiveness. Lee showed me that women could be in positions of power with belief and determination.

Until next time, Amira.