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Contractors managed through Avetta
Avetta helped David Jones rapidly overhaul its safety processes and systems to adopt a proactive safety culture, establish clear safety and compliance standards for contractors, and gain real-time visibility into contractor management and risk.
David Jones has a newly launched People Value Proposition (PVP), under which ‘Safety and Wellbeing’ is highlighted as a standalone pillar and fundamental part of how the business operates. David Jones believes a great place to work is one where people thrive, and that safety underpins workplace environments that enable people to perform at their best.
The retail sector in Australia has experienced an increase in violent retail crime, making it critical for David Jones to take a proactive approach to creating safe environments, sustaining safety compliance, and gaining real-time visibility into the compliance status and whereabouts of staff and contractors.
Throughout an evolving partnership of over 12 years, David Jones has expanded and deepened its use of the Avetta platform. Today, Avetta’s systems are enabling David Jones to deliver on its PVP and commitment to a safe working environment for contractors, visitors and customers.
By establishing a business focus on collectively using, managing and governing the Avetta system, David Jones was able to clarify the standards, rules, and parameters required to be a supplier, and how to follow them in alignment with David Jones’ values. There are now 6,000 contractors managed through Avetta.
Kristy Wilkin, Head of Safety and Wellbeing at David Jones commented, “We manage high-profile brands on tight timelines, which was at times stressful and resource-intensive. Now, with clear standards and non-negotiables, everyone’s aligned. Contractor compliance has improved, and our teams have the time and focus to get on with the job.”
Previously, contractors were working onsite without consistent governance. Some entered as visitors without a proper safety induction, introducing significant risk. Now, David Jones has a clear preferred list of suppliers that adhere to its operational standards and are governed accordingly.
The implementation of Avetta’s system has empowered support functions with easy, real-time visibility into contractor compliance, making it simpler to track and manage safety performance.
The ability to instantly access comprehensive contractor data has enhanced decision-making capabilities and reduced the risk of compliance gaps. By improving internal visibility and simplifying compliance tracking, the organisation has strengthened its contractor safety practices while driving operational efficiency. This transformation has allowed David Jones to focus more on strategic goals, knowing that contractor safety and compliance are being managed proactively and effectively.
Wilkin explained, “We can quickly induct contractors in a fast, compliant way, and then clearly see our contractor network on a comprehensive dashboard. Avetta gives our leadership team the confidence that the right systems and controls are in place to meet our internal standards and external obligations.”
David Jones is currently building its training program in partnership with Avetta. So far, the business has already been able to consolidate multiple previous induction versions into one generic induction for all workers to complete, with shorter additional role-specific modules. This approach ensures approximately 80% of training is universal, with only about 20% being tailored to individual roles. This makes updates easier and reduces redundancy.
By transitioning to the Avetta platform and making a concerted effort to use it to its full abilities, David Jones was able to significantly reduce workplace, health and safety risk across the business, while boosting contractor compliance.
As the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name, David Jones understands the value of deep, long-standing partnerships.
Wilkin concluded, “David Jones has been an Avetta customer for over 12 years, and their implementation and post-implementation support has been incredibly valuable. Avetta understands our business and how quickly we need to turn projects around. We aim to create a frictionless environment, and Avetta works closely with us to ensure we’re staying compliant, aligned with our operational standards, while still keeping the business and our projects running at speed and scale.”
Looking ahead, the Avetta platform is enabling David Jones to be future-ready amid growing regulatory demands, including incident reporting, audits, and ESG reporting.
David Jones is Australasia's leading premium department store retailer. The iconic department store first opened its doors in 1838 with the mission to sell the best and most exclusive goods. David Jones has 40 locations across Australia and New Zealand as well as davidjones.com and the mobile app in Australia, and is the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name.
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