Strong Values
Carefully selected to best represent our approach to business, Our Values are lived and breathed by our employees every day. Our company values link directly to outcomes, creating a respectful and satisfying workplace.
Our emphasis on Safety, Credibility, Respect, Accountability and Results are the foundation upon which we build our success.
World’s Best Boss!
Professor Clive Palmer is an owner who is approachable and generous, rewarding operational success with gestures that show true respect for what we are working to achieve.
In November 2010 many employee were rewarded with a new car or an overseas holiday in recognition of our hard work and dedication in achieving great results.
A Business Initiatives program has been created which encourages employees to be involved and proactive with business improvements. This program is outlined further in our Employee Benefits section.
Since 2009 the World’s Best Boss has presented QN employees with :
· Mercedes Benz cars
· Fiji holidays
· Port Douglas holidays
Job Security
The Palmer Nickel and Cobalt Refinery has been in operation since 1974. During that time we have seen the closing of our major source of raw product - the Greenvale nickel mine, Paul Keating’s ‘Recession we had to have’’, stock market crashes, changes of ownership, the Global Financial Crisis, major Cyclones and industry downturns.
We continue to respond to whatever business challenges are thrown at us to ensure our job security.
Today we have the financial strength of an ASX Top 50 organisation coupled with mobility and quick decision making of a single owner to respond to opportunities and challenges that face our business.
Sustainability
Underpinning our commitment to Sustainable Development, we undertake a number of employee driven initiatives to support the environment.
· Voluntary wildlife carers – We have 5 registered wildlife carers within our organisation. Raising orphaned native animals, we see baby wallabies, possums and flying foxes being brought in by our people due to the need for regular feeding, a warm pouch and the love and care our carers offer.
· Possum release area – We have a possum release area contained in our land holdings, including nesting boxes within their native habitat. Releases are generally scheduled 10 times a year, and this is an important time for us and our wildlife carers.
· Financial contribution – QN is a financial supporter of the North Queensland Wildlife Carers Inc through regular contributions.
Diverse Workforce
We have a diverse and international workforce at the Palmer Nickel and Cobalt Refinery. Together with nearly 1000 employees at the Refinery, we have staff in offices in Brisbane, Noumea in New Caledonia, Jakarta in Indonesia and Manila in the Philippines.
QN has also recently signed the Indigenous Employment Covenant aimed at increasing employment rates for local indigenous people.
Nearly 11% of the workforce are women, with the ages of people ranging from 17 to 66.
Community Support
QN is an avid supporter of our community, contributing an estimated $300 million per year to the North Queensland economy through purchasing goods and services from local suppliers. We are also the largest user of the Townsville Port and a major customer of Queensland Rail.
QN has a well developed local sponsorship program that supports numerous North Queensland organisations in the fields of arts, sport, community development, education and science.
We also encourage and support community involvement from our employees. Examples include:
· Charity fundraising barbeques and morning tea functions for Relay for Life (Leukaemia Foundation), Variety, Daffodil Day
· Fit Solutions – provider of fitness and health programs to employees’ children, as well as specialist conditioning advice to our junior sport partners.
· Blood Bank – the Red Cross mobile blood bank visits our refinery site four times a year, allowing employees to donate blood donations while on site.
· School Site Tours – We have supported requests by local schools to tour parts of our operations such as our labs. |