This month we had 24 nominations for our First Class Service Awards and we also included an additional nominees who have been singled out by our customers throughout the month. Detailed nominations are below, and we thank everyone for their nominations.

Last month’s winners were Mina Baggs, from our Consumer Sales Team in Perth and Cheryl Yap from our Relocation Services Team in Melbourne.

Mina was nominated by Jasmine Innes, Gordon Impey & Kay Woodcock.

Jasmine said:

Mina is always the go to person, she never says no, always strives to do the best and then some in her daily work.  The first to answer the phone, always a smile on her face and happy to assist with all queries from the clients.
Would be truly lost without her and what she brings to the company.

Gordon said:
I would like to nominate Mina, as she provides outstanding Customer service external and internal. She has excellent phone manner, is very patient, efficient and is always happy to help!

Kay said:

Mina is very charming with the clients on the telephone and spends a lot of time initiating the job into WRMS, getting all the details, arranging the survey etc. Very often the private quotation is a corporate quotation and Mina has to pass the job over to me. The entry into WRMS is always correct. Nomination for being a gracious co-worker, efficient and a real team player.

Cheryl was nominated by Maria Oras.

Maria said:

Cheryl has been working on initiatives to improve expense management services whilst ensuring the success in the delivery of the service. She introduced a workaround, drafted the paper works and implemented the process, that allowed us to make payment directly to employees in China without requesting our local office to make the payment, thereby, reducing the cost to provide the service to the client. Cheryl went the extra mile by her excellent follow through to make sure that the transition/change in the process, will not affect the timeline we have set with the employee and updating the employee regularly until the payment has been completed.

Congratulations Mina & Cheryl, who received $200 along with a certificate and a badge. On top of this Mina & Cheryl go into the judging for the Annual Award at the end of the year where the winner receives $2,000.

The full list of nominations for the month are at the bottom of this page, and all are very deserving of a congratulations for being nominated.

Santa Fe Milestones

Another big round of congratulations to Jasmine Innes and Kim Izzard for their ten years of dedicated service to the company (with awards presented by Chelsea Smith and Tim Farren).

Also pictured below are Zoey Woods and Michelle Donaldson (with Peter Keys) who celebrated their five year milestones at Santa Fe this month. Thanks to the Perth team for sending all of these great photos through and helping us to recognise the service of these great Santa Fe staff!

   First Class Service Award Nominees

The post Staff Recognition appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

We would like to take the opportunity to commend everyone for their efforts this month in delivering a truly 5 STAR SERVICE experience for our customers! For the first time in a very long time our customers are starting to shout our praises strongly online and this is something which we can all feel very proud of.

As you have probably come to know FACEBOOK and PRODUCT REVIEW have become the two major online review sites for all the world to see, which allow customers to review businesses for their customer service.

PRODUCT REVIEW – This month we are very proud to say that we have had 12 positive reviews so far across the site, which is an amazing achievement by all of us directly engaging with our customers, in our sales teams, service representatives and crews on the road! This is the most we have ever had in a month, with the whole first page now taken up by 5 Star Service scores! We still have a long way to go here with negative reviews currently still outweighing the positives and a score of 2.8, but we are confident that if we continue the way we are going, we will definitely start to show how serious we are about service and how much we care for our customers. To date Product Review has been a real concern, impacting not only our online reputation but also our sales effort and it’s great to see that with everyone’s commitment we are now starting to turn this around, moving ever closer to the 5 stars we know we deserve!! Have a read of some of the great reviews

http://www.productreview.com.au/p/santa-fe-wridgways.html

FACEBOOK – We are currently sitting at a score of 3.4, which is actually an amazing achievement considering our jump from 1.7 when we first started our 5 Star push in September of last year! If we continue the way we are going we could be sitting very close to 5 Stars by the end of the year. So far this month we have had 7 reviews – with only 2 scoring us in the negative. You will shortly see another very satisfied customer in our monthly winner to display in your branch.

https://www.facebook.com/Wridgways/reviews?ref=page_internal

Lately you will have also heard a lot about branch NPS scores (Net Promoter Scores), compiled primarily from post-move surveys, but also including the positive and negative reviews received online. It is extremely important to remember that these scores are the most accurate reflection that we have in terms of customer satisfaction with our service. Stay tuned!! We are building up to a very exciting announcement surrounding the NPS program next week.

In the meantime, it’s pats on the back to everyone… and a High 5 for a top customer service effort!!

The post Product Review Success appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

From Rum Jungle, NT to Berwick, VIC

Hi Tiarna,
I would like to thank you and the team for the uplift. You clearly have a very good team who work very well together. They arrived on time, were polite and went about getting the job done with efficiency greater than I have ever encountered with any removalist in the ten or so moves that I have made in my lifetime.
I would happily recommend both yourself and the entire team thus far to anyone wishing to relocate as everything has been so smooth and efficient.
If either you or the boys would require a professional reference in your future endeavours then please let me know as I will happily provide it.
Kind regards,
Owen Petersen

From Brisbane, QLD to Brisbane, QLD

Dear Troy,
I just wanted to give you feedback on our local move. David, Darren and Cory came down to pack/uplift in the final week of March. They were excellent. They were punctual, efficient, polite and professional, and treated our belongings with due care. They worked well as a team and got the move done as smoothly as one could expect. I was very grateful to have received a reliable team of men who had gone about this most hideous task with such a level-headed attitude.
Kind regards,
Nispa Won

From Wagga Wagga, NSW to Wagga Wagga, NSW

Dear Margaret,
We have just recently had a relocation with your company as our removalist. The team we had were Philip Stirland, Mark Webber and Matthew Fuller.
We would just like to say that these gentleman are a credit to your company, (I know they will laugh at me calling them gentleman). They were so professional and friendly that it made our move a pleasant experience instead of the nightmare it can often be. I would appreciate it if you could please pass on our thanks to them and tell them that we appreciate the work and the way they conducted themselves. It was great fun and a successful relocation.
Thanks,
Paul and Paula McEwan

Cassandra Neeson – 29 April – Croydon Park, Sydney to South Perth, WA

Great company, all our questions and concerns were answered fast by the office staff and the removalist teams were lovely guys. This has been our second move with Santa Fe Wridgways and both times everything has gone perfectly. We packed our stuff ourselves so pickup for the whole house only took about three hours. Our container arrived on schedule but they were happy to hang on to it for a few weeks while we found a new place. Top notch service, thanks so much!

Sam Leicester – April 1, 2016 – From Moorooka, QLD to Blackburn, VIC

Seamless from start to finish.
I found the whole process with Santa Fe seamless and well managed. They were the only removalist company that would come to our house and conduct an inventory prior to the quote. We moved a 3 bedroom house plus storage space interstate from QLD to VIC. We filled a container. We were flexible with pick up dates, which allowed us to be firm on delivery dates. Every time they said someone would call, they did. Every time they said someone would turn up, they did. No breakages and nothing missing.

Neil Duff- 29/04/2016 – From Karrinyup, WA to Northcote, VIC

I have used Santa Fe Wridgways on four occasions now for interstate moves and I don’t even bother getting other company quotes as I intend to always use Santa Fe Wridgways. They are polite from my first contact to then speaking with my consultant and they always respond and answer my questions. The quotes are always very comparable. Also the guys who pick up and deliver know what they are doing as well and are always courteous. I wouldn’t use any other company. They are professional on the phone and polite, and that is huge for me. They also appear to pick up on my needs and act on them. No mucking around. The guys that move the stuff are pros as well.

The post Our Customers Say appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

9 June, 2016

 Update on Biometric Data Collection for all Australian Visa applications  lodged in South Africa

The Australian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, have advised that effective 8 June 2016, all applicants for an Australian visa who are in South Africa at the time of lodgement, regardless of their nationality, must at the time of making a visa application provide their biometrics along with their application, unless otherwise excluded or exempted from doing so under Australian Government policy. Those applicants exempted are detailed further below.

Biometric data is collected through a quick, discreet and a non-intrusive process that captures a facial image using a digital camera and a 10-digit fingerprint scan on a dry scanner machine. This process will be familiar to applicants who have travelled to other countries requiring biometric data collection. Australian visa applicants will need to attend in person any one of the four (4) Australian Visa Application Centres (AVACs) to provide their biometrics. These AVACs managed by the Australian Government’s Service Deliver Partner TLS contact, are located in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Applicants will still be able to lodge their visa application through any one of the AVACs located across South Africa, where they will also be able to provide biometrics at the same time. Alternatively, visa applicants who send their application by mail or lodge online, including visas lodged online under the General Skilled Migration, Temporary Work (Skilled), Employer Nomination and Business Skills and Parent Categories, will be sent a letter requiring them to attend an AVAC to provide their biometrics. Applicants will need to take this letter with them to an AVAC when providing biometrics so the AVAC is able to match their application with the biometrics collected.

Some applicants may be fully or partially exempt from providing biometrics under Australian Government policy. Applicants fully exempt from providing biometrics include diplomatic representatives and their dependants, and government officials acting as a representative of a foreign government. Applicants who may be partially exempt from biometric collection include minors less than 5 years old (photo only required) and mentally or physically incapable persons (photo only required).

Currently, Australia is collecting biometric data from visa applicants in 33 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, the Middle East and the Americas and will continue to expand globally in the future. The collecting of biometrics from visa applicants will improve visa integrity, reduce identity fraud and improve security and safety for travellers and the Australian community.

The fees for acceptance of visa applications, or to only have the biometrics taken, are as follows and are over and above the visa application charges:

Service Fees

Service Fees are payable in addition to the Visa Application Charges at time of application submission.

Please note that only cash payment in ZAR will be accepted in the Visa Application Centre.

IMPACT

This will cause some delays in the processing of applications if clients cannot provide their biometrics as soon as possible after the visa applications are lodged.  It also has a financial impact in that it will now cost more regardless of whether the application is lodged online or sent to the Australian High Commission via courier.  It may also create a problem for applicants who do not live close to the major cities where biometric data can be taken.

For further information and assistance please contact:

Charmaine de Lange
Outbound Migration Manager – South Africa

Santa Fe Immigration Services

Ground Floor, 457 Rodericks Avenue, Lynnwood, 0081, Pretoria

(PO Box 72325, Lynnwood Ridge, 0040)

T: +27 12 348 2910/1587

M: +27 82 6080 324

F: +27 12 365 2109

E: charmaine.delange@santaferelo.com

Sue Kukadia
Group Director

Santa Fe Immigration Services

Tel:     +44 (0)20 8961 4141

Mob: +44 (0)7469 853208

Email: sue.kukadia@santaferelo.com

The post Immigration Update – Australian Visa Applications made in South Africa appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

Changes to Accredited Sponsor requirements under Australia’s 457 visa program

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) has announced new requirements (effective 1 July 2016) to become an accredited sponsor under the subclass 457 visa program.

The benefits include that the sponsorship is valid for six instead of five years and that nomination and visa applications lodged under that sponsorship will receive priority processing.

In order to qualify for Accredited Status a sponsor must have a history of good standing with DIBP, satisfy all the requirements for standard business sponsorship and also meet the following additional criteria:

• be a government agency, a publicly-listed company or a private company with at least AUD four million annual turnover for the last three years;
• have been an active 457 sponsor for at least three years (with no more than a six month break in the past 36 months), with no adverse information (based on monitoring, including formal warnings and sanctions);
• have sponsored at least ten primary 457 visa holders in the 24 months prior to the application for accreditation;
• have lodged an agreed level of decision-ready applications over the previous two years;
• have a non-approval rate of less than 3% for the previous three years;
• have Australian workers comprising at least 75% of their workforce in Australia;
• engage all 457 holders as employees under a written contract of employment that includes at least the minimum employment entitlements as required under the National Employment Standards (unless their occupation is exempt from this requirement);
• have all Australian employees paid in accordance with an Enterprise Agreement or an internal salary table that reflects the current market salary rates for all occupations in their business;
• have provided details of all business activities undertaken by their business to DIBP;
• have provided details of all Principals / Directors of their business to DIBP.

There will also be additional benefits for accredited sponsors in relation to certain nomination applications that meet other occupation and salary requirements in the form of streamlined processing of these nomination applications.

Should you require further information or would like to discuss becoming an accredited sponsor in Australia please do not hesitate to contact Santa Fe Immigration Services on +612 92624477 or email tara.ende@santaferelo.com

Tara Ende
National Immigration Service Delivery Manager

Registered Migration Agent No. 0742398

Santa Fe Immigration Services

The post Immigration Update – Accredited Sponsor Requirements appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

In this edition we recognise the winners for both April and May, for their incredible contributions to our business, and to the teams they interact with on a daily basis.

Congratulations to Chelsea Smith from Perth, our winner for April, and to Jaime Wood from our Melbourne Sales Team who won the First Class Service Award for May.

Chelsea was nominated by Tracey Keating, who said:

“I would like to nominate Chelsea as she has stepped into Pete’s role and is doing a fantastic job.  She had a few days to learn what she had too and has so much support from the whole of the Perth Branch. She has time to listen to issues, sorts out things asap and still helps out where she can, when she can. Total asset to the Perth branch and the company.” 

Jaime was nominated by two of our customers.

 Arpita Body – “Our Customers Say” said:

“I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for all your assistance for our move from Melbourne to Mauritius. Compared to 6 other quotes I received, although yours was not the cheapest, we decided to go with you because you gave me exactly what I requested – a door to door quote. You would be surprised to read all the figures and numbers others have sent me with acronyms in the shipping industry, that I have no idea of, nor any desire to learn frankly. You answered all our questions and concerns promptly and efficiently, and I love your professional organised approach. I completely trust our beloved items are in good hands now with your company, and the fact that I feel I can reach out to you with any questions is great for peace of mind at this stressful time for us. Thank you again for your patience and assistance. We appreciate it and would have no hesitation in recommending you.”

Phil Sidaway – “Our Customers Say” said:

“Thanks very much Jaime you’ve been incredibly helpful. I just wanted to say that we were deciding between your company and another whose price was very similar but the deciding factor was your customer service. So huge thanks again for making this as painless as possible.”

During May Jaime also achieved the largest % value of insurance sold by an internal sales consultant.

Congratulations to both Chelsea and Jaime for their dedication to Five Star Service, and for the important roles they play within our organisation.

Please see below for lists of nominees for April and May, and remember to nominate any great members of your team by the end of the month to help give them the recognition they deserve!

The post First Class Service Awards appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

Congratulations to Susan Tyson from Brisbane who celebrated her 25 years of service during June, and to Ryan Murphy who celebrated his 5 year milestone before departing for his new role in our Global Head Office in London.

A Fishy Tale

For those of you in need of a chuckle, we would also like to include this month a funny story of John Meneguzzi’s recent misfortune, which he passed on for your amusement…

“Queen’s Birthday weekend I organised a fishing trip to the Daly River here in the NT with a couple of mates, and we spent the whole of the first day trawling up and down the river with no success.

As we decided to do our last trawl down the river before we headed in to camp for the day I placed my Fishing rod down in the boat (not in the rod holder!!!) to get a drink out of the esky. As I turned around my rod took off and went into the water! Next thing we know the barramundi of a lifetime (well over a meter long) jumped out of the water three times with my rod following it on the surface.

My rod and reel were fairly new and cost over $400. Needless to say a few expletives were said, and talk about a grown man crying in his beer!

Now people have asked why not jump in to get my rod, well the Daly is one of the most crocodile infested waters in the NT, and only recently I took a photo of a croc (4 metres long) sunbaking on a sandbar with a friend in the water behind him, close to where I lost my rod!”

Happy Birthday Justin

Happy birthday to Justin from our Rockhampton branch who recently turned 21 and was greeted by balloons, and celebrations with his friends in the branch when he arrived at work.

Welcome Back Shelly

Welcome back to Shelly Hildebrandt who has returned to Santa Fe Wridgways on a casual basis, much to the delight of all who worked with her in her previous capacity as Branch Manager at Geraldton.

Arts and Crafts

Melbourne Branch and Head Office were recently given the rare opportunity to purchase Sharon Rivett’s one-of-a-kind homemade bags and cushions. Thanks for sharing Sharon!

The post Team News appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

With Rose Taylor…

During the month of May we had a slight reduction in the number of incidents that occurred around the country from the previous month.

No. of Incidents: 4

Lost Times Injuries: 2

Medically Treated Injuries: 1

We still need to be vigilant in the jobs that we do and make assessments of the risk that may be involved in something we do and aim to minimise or eliminate this risk and ensure that we all get to go home safely at the end of each day.

As this is typically our quiet time of year, it is probably a great time to ensure that our housekeeping is up to date. Clean up any mess around your work area and archive what can be moved out of you area.

One of the most common causes of slips, trips and falls is poor housekeeping, which applies not only to our office area but also our depot area. Make sure that all walkways are clear of items and provide an unobstructed path to walk on.

If you spill your tea or coffee whilst you are walking back to your desk – clean it up. This way you or some other person will not slip in it. Remember, if you see it, clean it up, even if you didn’t make the mess.

If you think you may have a good idea around a safety improvement in your branch, then please give me a call or email me your idea, I would love to hear it.

If you have any questions regarding any safety issue at your branch, please feel free to call or email me at rose.taylor@santafewridgways.com

Remember… always think Safety First.

The post Safety Corner appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

As always, the HR team is here to help, and we want to provide you with all the resources you need to be happy and healthy in your workplace.

Many of you are already making the most of the great resources that we have in Pulse. If you have not yet had a chance to check out what is on offer then we encourage you to take advantage of the vast bank of learning modules and videos designed to help YOU.

Use the icon on your desktop to open Pulse, and click on the Pulse Learning tab to access a list of learning topics. From here on, you can browse through different types of training that may interest you. A great place to start is the very quick “Written Email Etiquette” module which all staff need to complete as part of our Great Place to Work Action Plan. Use the search box in the right hand corner of the screen to search for this module, or by keyword for other modules you may wish to complete.

We hope you find this resource to be the valuable tool we know it can be, and that you share with your colleagues any of the modules you find particularly useful.

The post News from the HR Team appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

The post Facebook Competition Success appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

Malak, NT to Singleton, WA

To: John Meneguzzi – Operations Manager

Hello John & Narelle,
I have recently made the move from Darwin to Mandurah. Everyone knows that moving can be a stressful time, so I would just like to provide you some feedback on your employee Tiarna Swinson.
From my first email and call to Tiarna, she was so professional, friendly and responded to emails and calls very promptly.
I think too often customers only message Managers with negative feedback, so I just wanted to let you know how valuable this young lady is to your company and I will certainly be spreading positive word of mouth.

Regards

Yasman

Chiswick, NSW to Brisbane, QLD

To: Dina Lynch – Corporate Move Manager

Hi Dina,
Please provide a solid super public shout out to the team led by Dean that helped us move out of Chiswick, Sydney today. A 4 man team pulled together solidly in a combined effort to move a two bedroom unit packed with items down 4 flights of stairs and into the container to be sent to our new home in Brisbane. All the team worked very hard all day to get this job done.
Please let their managers know,

Regards,

Matt Quinten

Bardon, QLD to Hope Island, QLD

To: Jarod Hutchinson – Business Relocations Consultant

Hi Jarod,
I would like to thank you and your staff for the excellent service you provided with my furniture uplift, storage and eventual delivery to my new house.
Your quote was not the cheapest, but from your initial visit and quote I was impressed that you offered a service that no other Removalist company provided. You advised that your staff would take pictures, mirrors off walls for packing, I had a large built in wall unit that you were prepared to disassemble and then reassemble in my new house. Other Companies that I received quotes from were not prepared to take anything off walls, let along tackle a wall unit.

David and his crew who arrived to pack my house were professional, friendly and did a great job. I have had many moves over the years and this move would be at the top of my list for a move that was hassle free and gave me a feeling of confidence that my furniture and equipment would be well looked after in your storage facility.

You organised that David would be in charge of delivery of furniture into my new house some months later. He again did a great job and I believe was prepared to give me assistance in getting everything put in place and assembled, I could not have been happier with the outcome of the service given to me by you and your staff.
I would have no hesitation in recommending you to anyone that was looking for a professional, well organised removalist service.

Kind Regards,

Gail Hawins

Port Augusta, SA to Rockhampton, QLD

To: Adrienne Montague – Assignment Manager

Hello Adrienne
I have just spoken to Darwin and want to pass on some feedback. He has been extremely happy with the relocation to date and the service he has received from Santa Fe Wridgways. As a young family they were unsure of travelling with a little one but everything has been seamless and the customer service has been excellent.
Thank you for creating a wonderful welcoming experience for our new starter.

Kind Regards

Rita Ho
Talent and Metrics Specialist

Bayswater, VIC to Glass House Mountains, QLD

To: Alison Long – Consultant

Dear Alison,
My name is Osvaldo Barbas and I write to you to personally thank you for having made our move from Bayswater in Victoria to Glass House Mountains in Queensland, a pleasurable experience.
Your professionalism and friendliness from day one, were second to none. You delivered in everything you promised. Nothing seem to faze you and for us, moving interstate for the first time, you made it look so easy. You did more than just quote us, you managed the whole process in such a way that enabled us to concentrate on other matters at hand without having to worry about the move.

You were the face of Santa Fe Wridgways to us, and your company should be proud of the way you represent them. I would also like to thank your Melbourne crew which packed up and picked up our items, friendly and professional all of them and the crew that delivered to us as well. Worth mentioning the two managers who attended on pickup day, that was great to see.
We will not hesitate to recommend you to our friends and family.

Thank you once again,

Maureen Suttie and Osvaldo Barbas

Palmerston, ACT to Rydalmere, NSW

To: Eli Camaya – Assignment Manager

Hi Eli,
I was really impressed with your communications and keeping me informed with every step. KIrby was also very informative and friendly when he came out to assess our move.
I feel very confident that your company would move us “stress free”.
Thank you very much for all your help to this stage.

Best wishes,

Elaine

Angie Gilpin – Melbourne, VIC to Darwin, NT

I have moved 17 times in 33 years. I’ve used Man with a Van, randoms from the Yellow Pages, the works. I recently moved from Melbourne to Darwin – something I thought would be the most stressful experience to date.
This company is hands down, flat out the best company I have ever used in my life for anything. Everything was organised for me, the communication was impeccable, literally getting a call at least twice a week to see if there was anything else that could be done to help me, and to keep me up to date on what was happening, and the progress of my move, where my furniture was at etc. Exact times were given for things to happen and the workers were never once late. Every single worker from the surveyor in Melbourne, to the packers, to the movers in Melbourne and Darwin, to the guy who came and collected the boxes – were efficient, friendly and personable.
No problem was too big or too small. I have never felt so relaxed with a company. The amount I paid was only $300 more than back loaders quotes, and worth every single cent. Highly competitive prices with the option of transporting my car also. I cannot recommend this company highly enough. I have never in my life experienced such diligence, efficiency and awesome communication from any company. Other businesses could benefit from treating their customers the way I was treated with Santa Fe Wridgways. Not once was I in doubt of anything breaking/going missing like I have been in the past with other mobs. This company will be my number 1 choice in future for removalists. My consultant in Melbourne was amazing, calm and always happy to assist with any issue (big or small). 100% hands down flat out the best moving company ever.

Michael J Cooper – Quakers Hill, NSW to New Zealand

Santa Fe Wridgways have done a fantastic job for me, they have been so patient with me during the quoting process and the packers and customer service is just brilliant.
I would like to say thank you to the excellent work done by Michael Knowles, Carli-Ann Gibson and the two Marks on the truck.
I would recommend then to anyone who needs local or international movers.
Well done and thanks

Alison Lau – Quakers Hill, NSW to Oran Park, NSW
Couldn’t fault them.
Our recent move from Quakers Hill to Oran Park in Sydney couldn’t have been easier with Santa Fe Wridgways. The two gentlemen that were assigned to my job were polite, easy going, and made the day enjoyable. The process of getting a quote was easy, and the one person followed up my booking from start to finish.

Carryn Giles – Carrara, QLD to Geraldton, WA
How easy was my move across the country!
Moved from a two storey town house across Australia. We were moved from Carrara, Qld to Geraldton WA. The two guys and lady in Qld were beyond exceptional. They were methodical, efficient and timely whilst at all time being courteous and keeping us informed. My husband is in the hospitality industry and extremely pedantic but felt so confidant with these people that we went off while they packed.

Latitia Kernaghan – Wagga Wagga, NSW to Thurgoona, NSW
My experience was amazing. Right from the first contact through to the end the team were efficient, friendly and professional. The removalists were so helpful and with a positive attitude, made move day for me a breeze.

Phillip Hooton Date – Holloways Beach, QLD to Aberfoyle Park, SA
The service that the two boys gave us was so excellent they were so well spoken and polite to my grandmother they brought enjoyment to move. These boys should be highly recommended for any job dealing with the elderly they were absolutely brilliant and I would always use Santa Fe Wridgways
I would have to say as a person who has lived in five different countries I highly recommend this service I would say it is in a class above and beyond the services that I’ve ever experienced.

The post Our Customers Say appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

Last month we introduced a new section to the Red Horse Express with Staff Profiles to help you get to know the rest of the team a little better. As part of our Great Place to Work Action Plan, we launched this initiative with the intention of featuring both new and old employees, from across our branches, and hope this helps you to put a face to some of the names you are dealing with on a regular basis. Our second edition features new starters Michelle Girardo, Isabel Chorao, Matt Wilks, Murray DSilva and Deborah Hedi, as well as Peta Ashby who has returned to Melbourne. We hope that when you encounter these fantastic new members of the team you will make them feel very welcome!

Michelle Girardo – Receptionist, Melbourne

Hi everyone, my name is Michelle and I am the new receptionist at the Santa Fe Melbourne Branch.

I really enjoy being a receptionist as I love to deliver positive outcomes to both clients and staff members. I have a good understanding for the needs of others and genuinely enjoy completing all office based duties. Before working at Santa Fe I was working as a receptionist in a small accounting firm for three years. It is quite a different atmosphere working at Santa Fe but it has definitely been a good change, everybody here is lovely . Last year was quite a big year for me as I got married, moved out of home and we brought our first house together, which has been a lot of fun. In my spare time I enjoy seeing movies, trying to cook, relaxing with my family and friends and spending time with our little Bunny Rabbit Jerry.

Isabel Chorao – Immigration Manager, New Zealand

My name is Isabel and I will be managing the Immigration practice in New Zealand.  I have been working for Santa Fe since the beginning of June and I was very fortunate to have recently met many of you in the Sydney and Melbourne offices.  Thank you for the warm welcome and I very much look forward to working with you and building our Immigration Services business in New Zealand.

Prior to working at Santa Fe I have worked in a variety of law firms doing a wide range of work, as well as working for a large company specialising in corporate immigration.  Being a migrant myself and having lived in Europe and Africa in the past I believe that I understand the challenges that many migrants face and am able to provide them with the best technical advice and support at an exciting time in their lives.

In my spare time I enjoy reading, cinema, exercising, travelling and learning about other cultures and cuisines!

Matt Wilks – Sales Consultant, Newcastle

Hi all, my name is Matt and I started at Santa Fe Australia in Operations for our Sydney branch back in May. I am now based at Newcastle as a Sales Consultant, and have enjoyed both of the roles I have worked in so far. The removal industry is something I  been involved in from an early age, learning the tricks of the trade as an offsider, driver, consultant and in operations. My background is Electrician/Cabinetmaker/French Polisher, with the latter still seeing me associated with removals, as I owned a company  that did furniture repairs for the removal industry.

Enjoyment for me is time with the family and fishing with a few cold beers. But that’s enough of me rabbiting on about myself!

No doubt I will have contact with some of you in the near future.

Peta Ashby – Process and Quality Lead, Melbourne

My name is Peta… Yes, one of favourite foods is pumpkin… No, I have not had a wife and couldn’t keep her.

Now that’s out of the way, let me tell you about my history here at Santa Fe. I started in the Relocation Services team as an Assignment Manager in January 2014. In November 2014 I was seconded to Coles in the role of Mobility Specialist. After 19 months with Coles, I have now returned as the Process and Quality Lead, and coming back to a whole new role makes me excited for the positive change I can help create for our business.

One of the best parts of returning is the 15 minute commute compared to 1-1 ½ hours I have been use to! I also get to spend quality time with my 10 year old daughter and 5 year old son before dropping them off at school (I must admit the extra hour sleep-in helps too!).

Before working at Santa Fe I was employed with 2 other relocation companies for approximately 7 years. I have had many jobs over the years including Cook, Waitress, Bar Attendant, Assistant Hotel Manager, Childcare Worker, Cleaner, Merchandiser, Bookkeeper, Receptionist, Sales & Marketing Administrator, Marketing Coordinator, Debt Collector and Tupperware Consultant. It’s fair to say I am not scared of getting my hands dirty to pay the bills!

You may not know this about me but I grew up on a farm in a place called Delegate River, which is on the border of NSW and VIC in Far South East Gippsland. I grew up with poddy calves in our laundry during winter, feeding animals at 5am in the morning and taking 2 buses to get to the closest High School an hour away in Bombala.

I am a volunteer Treasurer for a small non-profit charity called Humanitarian Clowns. I love to ride my dirt bike but haven’t had much of a chance lately. Music and singing at the top of my lungs in the car with people laughing next to me is a daily occurrence and my family is my world!

Murray De Silva – Customer Service Manager, Perth

My name is Murray, I’ve been in the removal industry for 30 plus years. I worked at Allied Pickfords Perth for 23 plus years, nearly 3 years underground mining, and nearly 4 years with K & S Freighters in Rail, Wharf and general freight.

I guess I reentered the removal sector because I’m passionate about Operations and Customer Service, or just a sucker for punishment.

In my spare time my wife and I like renovating our home, or she just delegates the jobs and I get them done. My other interests are fishing, cooking and be a Home Handy Man.

I commenced with Santa Fe Wridgways on the 20th of June and I am very pleased to be here, being the CSM at Perth Branch and experiencing day-to-day challenges is a passion for me.

Looking forward to working with the team.

Deborah Hedi – Internal Sales Consultant, Brisbane

Hi everyone, my name is Deborah and I started at SFW Brisbane in the last week of June as an Internal Sales Consultant. I have a very strong sales background and have had 3 years of removals experience.

I am a dog person and love all animals. I like to cook and watching movies at home.

I look forward to all the challenges that my new role will bring me.

The post Staff Profiles appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

Moving interstate can trigger a wide range of feelings – excitement, fear, anticipation, frustration and exhaustion (just to name a few). But the big one? STRESS. Moving yourself and your family from one state to another is a big decision and an enormous lifestyle change, so it is possible that you may feel a little anxious from time to time. While these feelings can arise from time to time, you don’t need to feel overwhelmed. There are some straightforward, practical steps you can take to make your big move interstate run as smoothly as possible, from the culling of junk and clutter before packing, through to the hiring of experienced and professional removalists.

The Right Moving Company

Making sure you hire the right interstate removalists is essential. There are many different removals companies in the market, which offer a number of different services. With such an important choice to make, the number of options can sometimes cloud the process. It is important when making a decision that you are wary of cheaper prices, as this will usually indicate the lower quality of service on offer. It is crucial when making your decision to remember what is really important to you when moving interstate, and that sometimes price isn’t everything. Keep the following points in mind when getting a quote:

• How your goods will be packed and transported
• How many large and/or fragile goods need to be moved
• Whether your goods will be insured when the unexpected occurs

Santa Fe Wridgways works in the most professional manner and makes this process easy and simple for you, from getting a quote through to moving your belongings with care to their final destination.

Plan, Plan, Plan

Being over prepared is better than being underprepared. With this in mind you should plan as many elements of your move as humanly possible! Take an inventory of everything you are bringing with you, and everything you are planning to sell or throw away. Santa Fe Wridgways will make it easy by providing you with a checklist, and this will ensure that everything is checked off and arranged before the big move. Unlike other removalists, Santa Fe Wridgways make every effort to make sure everything possible is considered and covered. While it is important to have everything budgeted and accounted for in advance, it is equally important to allow for some flexibility in your budget, just in case there are unexpected charges, such as a higher number of items or timeframes change. By planning well in advance and making use of our comprehensive checklist, you will be ensuring an easy, seamless move day.

Packing

Packing can prove to be the most daunting task involved with moving, but it doesn’t have to be. There are several benefits to taking a step back and allowing professionals to pack for you. Santa Fe Wridgways has over 120 years’ experience packing belongings systematically and with the care you expect from a premium service provider. While we can make the packing process seem like a walk in the park, you are the only person with the power to reduce the amount of “stuff” you take with you. It’s important to be decisive with what you leave behind, sell, or dispose of. Sell as many unwanted belongings as you can before your move on eBay and Gumtree, or donate usable items to charity.

Insurance

Professional interstate and international removalists will do their best to transport all your items as securely as possible, but the more you own and the farther you have to go, the higher the chances of things getting damaged. Not everything is guaranteed, so taking out insurance is an essential step when moving interstate. For your peace of mind, Santa Fe Wridgways offer competitive insurance for both interstate and international moves.

Another insurance worth considering which is commonly overlooked is car insurance. It is advisable to do some research to see if the car insurance you currently have will be valid in your new state, or whether there will be any added extras. If your current level of cover is not suitable you might want to consider a new car insurance policy that is more suited to your new circumstances, and don’t forget to investigate the impact of registering your car in your new state and arranging new number plates.

Spreading the Word

While your family and friends are likely to be aware of your big move, there are other more official measures that need to be taken care of. Notifying authorities of your move well in advance keeps things hassle-free during the relocation period and ensures you don’t miss out on anything when you do eventually move.

Make sure you notify your change of address to:
• Utilities (water, gas and electricity suppliers)
• Internet Service provider and mobile phone/landline companies
• Australia Post
• Bank
• Home and contents insurance providers
• Australian Taxation Office
• Car registration, insurance and licensing
• Medicare and private health funds
• Australian Electoral Commission
• Local council
• Pet microchip registry
• Newspaper/magazine subscriptions and loyalty programs

Checklist

Four Weeks Before the Move
• Book your interstate removals company
• Start notifying official channels of your change of address
• Make an inventory of large items that need to be moved, noting existing scratches and dents
• Start packing away items that won’t be needed until after you move

Two Weeks Before the Move
• Notify everyone of your change of address
• Start packing!
• Disassemble any large or awkward items
• Finalise plans for your moving day
• Arrange transfer of bank accounts, utilities and telephone connections

One Week Before the Move
• Draw up a house plan for where your furniture is to be placed in your new home
• Set aside an emergency pack of things you will need on the first day you move in
• Pack as much as you possibly can ahead of time
• Use up all food in your freezer

One Day Before the Move
• Pack personal items and luggage to take with you
• Leave out essential items for the movers for the next day
• Prepare an action plan for moving day
• Tick everything off this list!

Moving interstate doesn’t have to be a stressful experience – by planning ahead and organising everything you need to do thoroughly, you can make the move across state lines as seamless as possible. By following this guide and choosing Santa Fe Wridgways as your interstate removalists your big move can be a positive experience and leave you with more time to enjoy the exciting journey ahead.

The post Moving Interstate: Important Things to Consider Before the Big Move appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

Once the excitement of finding your dream home has subsided, and the paperwork has been signed, it is time to start thinking about all the other things that need to happen between now and moving day.

While it is fun to imagine yourself cooking in your new kitchen or relaxing in your living room, there are some practical matters to attend to as well, the most important of which is booking a trusted removalist well in advance. Santa Fe Wridgways has over 120 years’ experience in moving families both locally and globally, and you can rest assured that our dedicated team will make your move as stress free as possible.

One of the biggest elements of moving house is packing an entire house full of belongings, and for many families this task can seem a little overwhelming, and sometimes quite daunting. The good news is that Santa Fe Wridgways are here to help and can help to pack your entire house, or just the items you choose.

Many customers opt for our packers to engage in a fragile pack, which will include electricals such as big screen TVs, artwork, ornaments, and sometimes even the entire kitchen. Only items packed by our team will be covered under our insurance policies, so it is always wise to enlist us to pack your more valuable and irreplaceable belongings, just in case.

Whether you choose to pack yourself, or use our expert team of packers, we have created this handy guide to help you declutter, organise, and ensure everything is packed correctly so that you can begin your life in your new home with as little stress as possible.

Trust us, we make it easy.

A Home Removalists Guide: Make a note of your belongings

In all the hustle and bustle of moving, it is important to make time early in the process to write down and record all of your valuable or irreplaceable goods and belongings.

Once you have compiled this list, you can make an educated decision about whether to pack some items separately, insure particular items, and to make your removalist team aware of any fragile or valuable items. While our number one priority is to ensure each and every item arrives in the condition it was packed in, sometimes accidents can occur, often outside of our control. The decision to take out insurance is an important one, so that if the unexpected does occur and your belongings are lost or damaged during the move, you can be suitably compensated.

At Santa Fe Wridgways, we encourage you to plan and prepare to help ensure you have an easy moving experience. We provide a moving checklist that covers everything from labelling cartons to draining your dishwasher, and has these tasks ordered from “well ahead of time” all the way through to moving day. Using this guide, and our online checklist you can settle into your new home knowing that your belongings have arrived safely at your door, ready for you to start your new life.

A Furniture Removalists Guide: Top Packing Tips and Tricks

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by just how much “stuff” you have to pack, then don’t worry, this feeling is normal during any move, and our tips and tricks will help you to feel in control of the process.

One of the key things to remember before you begin is that there are plenty of “wrong ways” and far fewer “right ways” to pack. The popular blog Stay At Home Mum can be very useful to families in need of advice on what to do before moving house.

We are going to focus on the most important tips, and best ways to go about packing your old house up and preparing everything for a smooth transition into your new home.

Tip #1 – Quality Boxes Do Matter

Ensure you are using high quality boxes and you will save time and stress by not having to deal with weak ones that fall apart during your move. You will want to make sure that your items are well protected for transport, even when they are being moved by professionals.

If you decide to go ahead and pack your own belongings, Santa Fe Wridgways can provide you with high quality and well-designed boxes free of charge. While some customers do choose this option, for complete peace of mind it is always a better idea to entrust our professionals to pack for you and take care of the entire process.

Note: One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to pack using garbage bags instead of boxes, this is a recipe for disaster, and will almost certainly result in breakages.

Tip #2 – Use a Permanent Marker and Tape Gun

Leave the craft-sized tape in your stationery draw, and make your life easier with a heavy duty roll of tape and a tape gun. Once you get the hang of it, a good quality tape gun will save you plenty of time when packing. Another necessity for anyone moving house is to invest in a fresh permanent marker to make sure your labelling is clear and easy to read.

Make sure to use these items to your advantage by:

• Securing the base of each box with extra tape.
• Labelling every box with an item category and a destination room.
• Use your extra hand to support closure of boxes when using a tape gun.

Note: Never force the top of a box closed, there is every chance it will burst open during transit.

Tip #3 – Pack Smart

You don’t need a science degree to know the basic laws of physics, but there are still plenty of smart packing tips which removalists are well aware of, but are not used by the general public.

These best practice packing tips include:

• Pack miscellaneous kitchen items within pots and pans with lids, then tape the lid closed.
• Ensure there are no empty spaces in boxes (so there is limited movement of items) by filling in small gaps with bubble wrap, brown paper, old towels, tea towels, or sheets.
• Never pack a box over the weight of 25kg as it will be difficult to carry and most likely tear.
• Tape small parts, like nuts, washers, and screws, to the base of dismantled furniture items.
• Pack very small items in small boxes, such as a shoe box.
• Make use of large travel bags, like suitcases, to pack clothing or linens.
• Don’t forget to cover your furniture with bubble wrap. Even though you won’t be putting your wooden chairs or wardrobes into boxes, we still want to avoid scratches.
• When moving drawers, keep clothes folded inside and secure the drawers to the edges with tape.

Note: Make sure your tape is good quality so that wood and paint aren’t damaged when it is removed.

Moving house is a huge process and requires a great deal of time, energy, and organisation. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of packing up your entire life by yourself, then Santa Fe Wridgways is here to help. Entrust in our packing, unpacking, interstate removalist, and moving services, and you will experience a seamless transition into your new home. We make it easy.

The post The Ultimate Guide for Stress Free Packing appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

China now a full Signatory of the Washington Accord –Engineers from China applying for residence Australia to benefit from this announcement.

China is now a full signatory of the Washington Accord. As a result, qualified engineers from China will have a more straightforward process when applying for a skills assessment through Engineers Australia.

The Washington Accord, signed in 1989, is an international agreement among bodies responsible for accrediting engineering degree programs. It recognises the substantial equivalency of programs accredited by those bodies and recommends that graduates of programs accredited by any of the signatory bodies be recognised by the other bodies as having met the academic requirements for entry to the practice of engineering

It is important to note that this development will only benefit the skills assessment process through Engineers Australia. There has been no change to the Australian immigration application process after receiving a positive skills assessment from Engineers Australia. As such applicants are still required to meet all other Immigration criteria including English language competency.

The Australian Immigration Categories for which a positive skills assessment from Engineers Australia is required include the skilled independent visa category (Subclass 189), skilled nominated visa category (Subclass 190) as well as the Employer Nomination and in certain situations the 457 visa category.

For further information or assistance please contact Ivan Chait, details below:

Ivan Chait

General Manager, Immigration Services

Registered Migration Agent No. 9253612

Santa Fe Immigration Services
T: +61 2 9262 4477
E: ivan.chait@santaferelo.com

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Congratulations on signing the paperwork for your new home or rental! If you have already booked in your removalists, packers, and a garage sale, then you are already well on your way to a seamless, happy move day. Moving house is a better time than any to start fresh and set goals for the future.

The better you prepare for your moving day, the more hassle free and happy a move you will experience. For your move to be successful, you will need to arm yourself with a moving home survival kit.

What you need to include in a moving day survival kit:

An Overnight Bag

Have you ever moved into a new place, only to realise you have forgotten which box your clean linen or phone charger is in? The night before the move we recommend packing an overnight bag or suitcase with all the essentials you will need for the first few nights in your new home before you’re completely unpacked.

Include a set of sheets, your pillow, a towel, PJs, phone charger, toiletries, toilet paper, hairdryer, a change of clothes, underwear and any other essentials that would make you feel more comfortable at your new place. If you have pets, don’t forget to add in pet food and their favourite toys.

Moving Equipment

To make your move as smooth and efficient a transition as possible, there are a number of items from the hardware store to keep handy, come moving day.

You can either do it yourself by getting some permanent markers, box labels, heavy duty tape, bubble wrap (for fragile items) and perhaps even a hand trolley for heavy items. Alternatively, you can always save your time and effort by entrusting Santa Fe Wridgways professional removalists to handle the whole process for you, allowing you to focus on other more important tasks.

Practical Items

To ensure the move goes off without a hitch keep important documents (like your moving booking confirmation and quote) in a folder that you can easily access.

Manoeuvering furniture and bulky boxes can easily lead to a few strained muscles, splinters and scrapes. Even if you are entrusting in professional movers, it’s wise to pack a basic first aid kit with Band-Aids, ice packs, antiseptic wipes, tweezers and paracetamol tablets in case of injury. If you are planning your move during the warmer months, you will most likely be spending a lot of time outside, so be safe in the sun,  pack your sunscreen, and remember to slip, slop, slap.

One of the most important items to recall on the day are your car keys, and the keys to your new place. A good idea is to keep all your keys on a lanyard around your neck so these items are always nearby.

Motivators

Stay energised and hydrated on moving day by keeping a water bottle and supply of snacks close at hand. Bring along treats that don’t need to be refrigerated and that are easy to eat. Lollies, biscuits, coffee and tea can be great ways to keep morale up within your moving team throughout the day whilst you listen to your favourite tunes as you unpack.

Packing and moving house is an extremely exciting time, however, it can be an equally stressful and time-consuming process. It’s important to keep these essentials close at hand come moving day for a safer, easier and happier transition. For more moving and packing advice take a look at the moving home week-by-week checklists as featured on Homely.com.au

Author Bio: 

Larissa Gardner is a blogger, social media strategist and marketing coordinator at arguably Australia’s best looking real estate website Homely.com.au. With over 340K listings and 500K local reviews and insights, Homely is a faster and easier way to search for property to buy and rent in Australia.

The post Moving House Survival Kit Essentials appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (‘DIBP’) has released a document addressing key statistics and trends in the subclass 457 Temporary Work (Skilled) visa programme for 2015 – 2016 to 31 March 2016. As at 31 March 2016, the size of the subclass 457 program had decreased compared to the same period last programme year. Between 2015-16 and 2014-15 there was a decrease of 1.9% of primary applications lodged. For the same period, there was a more significant decrease of 12.6% of primary visas granted.

These key figures would indicate that the DIBP are refusing to grant a greater number of 457 visas. This can be attributed to the changes in policy that were introduced across the 2015-16 period, specifically the need for a sponsoring employer to address whether the role the foreign national will be taking up is considered to be a ‘genuine position’.

Genuine Position

Whilst the need to address the ‘genuine position’ criteria was introduced on 1 July 2015, the DIBP have only recently extended its immigration policy on the matter, effective 1 July 2016. This policy expansion was a direct result of the confusion that the initial policy wording caused across the immigration industry, within the DIBP and immigration advisory profession alike and is directly related to inconsistent decisions and to the higher rate of 457 visa refusals received.

On the 27^th of July 2016, Santa Fe Immigration team members attended the NSW DIBP 457 Roadshow at which senior DIBP officials presented. The DIBP officials acknowledged the training that was being carried out for all their 457 assessment staff on the new policy surrounding the ‘genuine position’ criteria and to reinforce that the intention of the 457 programme is only used to address temporary skills shortages. The new policy allows the DIBP the ability to refuse a nomination if there are indicators that a semi-skilled position had been ‘dressed up’ to appear more skilled in order to facilitate a visa for a person or if it appears that the position has been created for the purposes of a migration outcome only. The requirement is not that the position itself is ‘genuine’ or ‘needed’ rather that the position exists and also is what it purports to be.

Given the expansion in immigration policy, it will become even more necessary for sponsoring employers to lodge complete applications including submission that address the ‘genuine position’ criteria upfront. The Santa Fe Immigration Services team will be guiding its clients on the more detailed requirements and what is required to satisfy this criteria. If you have any questions about how the new immigration policy may affect your applications, please feel free to contact Santa Fe Immigration Services.

Ivan Chait

General Manager, Immigration Services

Registered Migration Agent No. 9253612

Santa Fe Immigration Services
T: +61 2 9262 4477
E: ivan.chait@santaferelo.com

Article prepared by Allanah Maguire (Senior Consultant)

The post August 2016: The importance of proving “Genuine position” under the 457 visa stream appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

Santa Fe Wridgways on Reno Rumble

Santa Fe in Business Review

Santa Fe in Fidi Focus

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Press Releases

Melbourne 1 August 2016: Two of the nation’s leading tier 1 removal companies have forged a unique agreement in three regions of Australia, whereby each will engage the other to provide removal services. Santa Fe Wridgways and Kent Removals & Storage announced the new agreement today.

Read more…

The post Santa Fe Wridgways and Kent Removals & Storage strike unique deal in the South Australian, central Queensland and north-west Western Australian markets appeared first on Santa Fe Wridgways.

3 August 2016: Santa Fe Group A/S has reached an agreement, in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding, with Iron Mountain Inc. whereby the Group’s Records Management activities in 10 markets will be acquired by Iron Mountain against a cash consideration of EUR 27.1m. The divestment is expected to result in a divestment gain of approximately EUR 16m and net proceeds after tax of around EUR 24m.

Read more…

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