miguelholland, Author at Transdev Australasia

The group of 14 leaders were hosted by community based First Nations non profit community group, Tribal Warrior Aboriginal Corporation, for a unique cultural learning and engagement experience on Gadigal Wangal Country in Redfern.

Aunty Donna and Jacob Saunders were the group’s guides through a day of activities starting at The National Centre of Indigenous Excellence for a boxing session with local youth, under its Clean Slate Without Prejudice program.

The group then did a walking tour of Redfern during which Aunty Donna yarned on the historical and contemporary significance of the area followed by an afternoon of learning and reflection.

Transdev Australia and New Zealand CEO Brian Brennan said it was enlightening to learn more about Redfern’s history for Indigenous activism and self-determination and to hear powerful and raw personal stories.

“Thanks to Tribal Warrior, they really did show us the ropes and open our eyes and ears to extremely powerful stories and local history,” Mr Brennan said.

“It was a deadly experience. I found it fun, exciting, confronting and sad but it drove my desire do more on our own journey.

“Transdev looks forward to making more progress on our reconciliation journey through our actions and commitments via our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).”

Transdev Chief Operations Officer and Reconciliation Executive Sponsor Peter Lensink said Transdev’s RAP teams were looking forward to continuing our journey.

“There is always more to learn and opportunities to deepen our connections with local First Nations culture and how we support them for a better Australia,” Mr Lensink said.

Transdev John Holland Bus (TJHB) team members and industry partners together raised $12,600 at its inaugural Charity Golf Day on 26 July at Cabramatta Golf Club.

TJHB Managing Director Mark McKenzie said he was proud to support local communities including the Foundation.

“This was an outstanding result and I am so thankful to everyone involved for their generosity and contributions to an enjoyable and successful day,” Mr McKenzie said.

“A special mention for our Head of Assets, Bruno Martino, who was instrumental in putting this event together and our partnership with the Foundation.”

Transdev’s Sydney Ferries team has also raised $5,600 from a range of charitable donations from its team and proceeds from old and unclaimed lost property.

Transdev’s combined fundraising efforts will support new equipment, research and patient care for the more than 159,000 kids who the Foundation helps each year.

On Wednesday, Transdev leaders and its broader ally network shared their inclusion and acceptance experiences at Transdev’s Sydney Light Rail Randwick Depot.

A panel session heard moving personal stories and lived experiences from leaders and focused on how individuals and organisations could be proactive allies and championing LGBTQ+ communities.

Transdev CEO Brian Brennan said Transdev supported Wear it Purple Day because action was needed to help younger workers.

“Studies show rainbow people at work are often at higher risk of mental health issues and bullying,” Mr Brennan said.

“We all need a sense of belonging – to feel part of something, particularly young people.

“Transdev supports a safe, empowering and inclusive workplace. It’s ok to be yourself at work and that means embracing difference regardless of sexuality, gender identity or intersex status.

“It’s why we’re rolling out Respect at Work training for all our frontline and office staff before year’s end across Australia and New Zealand.

“It’s also why Transdev has our internal Pride Network, partners with Pride in Diversity and has inclusive policies, because we support difference.

“Diversity makes us stronger by backing our people to be more innovative and better equipped to serve our communities.”

Diversity Panel members Darren Otten, Executive Director Employer Services at employment services providers Asuria, and Zachary Lopez, Relationship Manager at Pride in Diversity, joined Transdev’s Xavier Atkinson, Pride Network Chair, and Dimity Smith, Chief People & Culture Officer.

Transdev Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Talent Acquisition Manager Nicole Norris said Transdev was taking steps to be better allies and move to an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) silver accreditation, from its current Bronze tier status.

The AWEI recognition is the definitive best-practice national benchmark for workplace inclusion of LGBTQ+.

Chris is a shining example of Transdev’s commitment to excellent service and one of Transdev Wellington’s +400 strong team.

Chris has become a local legend on Wellington trains during the past 20 years thanks to him brightening the day of countless passengers.

“That’s what I do on the trains every day – calling for tickets, having a laugh, chatting with people, and sharing compliments in exchange for a fare,” Chris said.

Customers are at the heart of Transdev services and Chris’s dedication, positive energy and sense of humour continue to make a difference each day.

Check out the video below from @NewsHub to hear from Chris’s fans about the impact he makes.

This six-month initiative is dedicated to supporting our colleagues in achieving their professional goals by providing mentorship, training, and networking opportunities.

The program is aimed at developing female talent – their influence and leadership impact.

This opening session marked the beginning of a journey fostering an inclusive workplace where our female Journey Makers can thrive and drive meaningful change in the organization.

Congratulations to our first 12 leaders to undertake this course: Chloe Scully, Gillian McGilviray, Katrina Wild, Kavitha Dey, Kiersten Hocking, Kristen Clifton, Lucy Loadsman, Rebecca Shearon, Rita Haitas, Sally Betzer, Shelley Hamer and Tania Yorwarth.

Union members plan to stop work for 24 hours on Wednesday meaning no trams will run on L1, L2 or L3 tram lines for that day.

From Tuesday, members will not wear uniforms or work overtime and drive at reduced speeds which may impact journey times.

Transdev Sydney Managing Director Arsene Durand-Raucher said he apologised to customers for the planned service disruptions which would impact commuters, schools and Vivid Festival attendees.

“This news will be frustrating for customers, especially post the long weekend, to have to plan around these disruptions,” Mr Durand-Raucher said.

“We are working hard with transport partners to minimise impact to customers caused by this planned industrial action.

“Customers should plan ahead and consider alternate public transport options from this Tuesday or, if possible, avoid non-essential tram travel.

“We’ve alerted schools located near the light rail, and on the day, we will have as many personnel as possible on the ground to help manage the disruption.”

Mr Durand-Raucher said he was disappointed in the planned industrial action after having earlier reached an in-principle agreement last Tuesday.

“We are still committed to negotiating in good faith with our employees through the Rail Tram and Bus Union and met again with bargaining representatives today [6 June],” Mr Durand-Raucher said.

“We remain hopeful that we can reach a resolution and avoid unnecessary disruption.”

Transdev and the Rail Tram and Bus Union have agreed to an in-principle enterprise bargaining agreement for Sydney and Parramatta Light Rail workers.

Transdev Sydney Managing Director Arsene Durand-Raucher said he was pleased that trams will be running as normal tomorrow.

“It is great that we’ve been able to avoid major disruptions tomorrow and not disrupt passengers including school students and Vivid Festival goers,” Mr Durand-Raucher said.

Our people joined First Nations partners and local elders to hear of the impact of Transdev’s support for training, employment and wellbeing of local youth and First Nations peoples and to learn how to further support reconciliation.

This year’s Reconciliation Week, Now More Than Ever, is an important reminder that the reconciliation journey will span decades and require continued efforts.

Transdev Australia and New Zealand Chief Operating Officer & Reconciliation Action Plan Chair Peter Lensink said Transdev was actively working to consider shared cultures and histories.

“Reconciliation is an enduring and ongoing process – central to the mission of Transdev,” Mr Lensink said.

“We are invested in understanding the history and the struggles and these remind us to all work to forge a new path ahead together.

“This week is an opportunity to reflect, acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians of the shared lands and waterways on which we operate.

“Transdev is proud of all its Indigenous connections and all our people in their various roles are encouraged to consider how they’re contributing to reconciliation in their own way.”

Transdev Sydney Ferries General Purpose Hand and Indigenous leader Tony Cook said Reconciliation Week was a time to reflect and celebrate coming together.

“We’ve got things in place within Sydney Ferries such as flying the Aboriginal flag on all boats and celebrating both reconciliation and NAIDOC weeks,” Mr Cook said.

“But what Reconciliation Week means for me is the coming together as one and understanding First Nations people and moving forward.

“I’d like Australians to learn to support and understand what the First Nations struggles have been since European occupation.”

Reconciliation Week commemorates two significant milestones in Australia’s reconciliation journey – the 1967 referendum and the High Court’s Mabo decision.

To learn more and access Reconciliation Week resources, visit here.

January alone was a monthly record of 1,592,922 trips also since 2019.

Sydney Ferries has also had dramatic operational improvements in the last year.

Reliability has surpassed the 99.5% target, on-time running was consistently above 95% and overall customer satisfaction levels have been maintained at 98%.

Transdev Sydney Ferries Managing Director Gary Iddon said the numbers were proof that Sydney Ferries were back on course.

“These results are not easy to reach and a real credit to the continuous dedication and commitment of our team of nearly 700 people,” Mr Iddon said.

“Our people from crews, maintenance employees at Balmain Shipyard or in support roles, are focused on brilliant basics and putting customers at the heart of everything they do.

“For them, Sydney Harbour is not just a workplace; it’s the best office in the world and a source of pride as they deliver world-class service.

“Our team has worked hard to increase the preventative maintenance of vessels and boosted vessel availability since last year, which has improved reliability.”

Mr Iddon said collaborative support and collective efforts of Transport for NSW and trade unions had also been crucial, with the State adding extra services to the outer Harbour and Parramatta River routes earlier this year.

“It’s taken collaborative and sustained efforts on many levels, especially with the Government’s support for the introduction of 13 new vessels during the previous few years, which inevitably comes with different challenges,” Mr Iddon said.

“We’ve taken the learnings from the previous introduction of new vessels and now applying those lessons to Sydney’s new Parramatta class vessels and the improved accessibility they offer.

“It is also great to have support from our customers and the broader community. We connect families, friends, commuters and visitors to the heart of the city. They are the driving force behind our team’s determination to go the extra mile, ensuring a reliable, safe, and enjoyable ferry experience for all.”

Mr Iddon said Transdev would stay focused on improving reliability and customer experience as it continues to operate and maintain the fleet until 2028.

Transdev Sydney Ferries fast facts:

History: Operated by Transdev since 2012
Ferry fleet: 38 vessels
Routes: 10
Number of wharves: 36
Patronage: 15.5m annually
Customer satisfaction: 98% average (for last 5 years)
Employees: ~680 people, averaging 13yrs service, +100 of those with at least 25yrs service
First Nations: First transport operator to permanently fly the Aboriginal flag on all vessels since Nov 2022, 7% of workforce First Nations (national average 2.2%)

TfNSW improvements since 2019

13 new vessels(x10 River Class, x3 EmeraldGen2)
7 new Parramatta River vessels in next 12 months.
8 of 9 First Fleet vessels refurbished
x2 Freshwaters: Freshwater / Queenscliff: major refurbs
Optimised network timetable
x2 new routes (F9 Watsons Bay and F10 Blackwattle Bay

The Transdev bus driver was recently featured on SBS Insight episode: “How old is too old?” showcasing how older people stay active and contribute to society.

Sue was filmed on her normal bus runs and appeared in the studio audience alongside veteran broadcasters Derryn Hinch and Mike Carlton.

Sue, 75, still drives full-time on Brisbane’s bayside proving age is no barrier.

“The passengers mean a lot to me. They become part of your life. They like to share things,” Sue said.

“My age hasn’t slowed me down at all.

“As soon you get behind that wheel everything changes, as soon as people get on it changes… you’re thinking of other people besides yourself.”

Transdev Queensland Managing Director Mark Thatcher said Sue was a valued team member and inspiring role model.

“Sue is a dedicated, caring driver and so friendly and welcoming to all our customers,” Mr Thatcher said.

“We can’t ask for more than that. Sue is vibrant, positive and has great energy – it’s a credit to her and is infectious.

“If you’re healthy and active, age really is just a number.”

To view Sue’s story, visit here.

The On Demand service was introduced in Tawa in May 2022 before an extension to the Porirura CBD in June 2023.

It’s an app based service where customers order rides from small 14-seater buses running without set routes between about 600 flexible, virtual stops depending on demand. A fixed fare of $2.50 is paid through the app, making it similar to rideshare apps – but much more affordable.

Mana Newlands Managing Director Craig Chin said the extension showed Greater Wellington Regional Council’s commitment to connecting more people with public transport.

“The council saw the need particularly in underserviced areas and this service is filling the gap and linking into the wider bus and rail network at an affordable price,” Mr Chin said.

“This extension will also give us a full 12 months of data from the expansion to central Porirua which can help Metlink inform future transport decisions.

“Overall, this is a great collaboration for Transdev with Metlink, the Council and Via as we’re proud we’re connecting more communities through this service.”

Passengers can download the Metlink On Demand app for free from their mobile’s app store, or by visiting metlink.org.nz/ondemand (link).

This innovative taskforce has improved safety, collisions where Transdev is at fault have decreased by 27% overall since July 2023 to February 2024.

Transdev’s Bus Collision Taskforce Chair and Transdev’s West Australian Bus Managing Director Bob Parton said the encouraging results were from sustained efforts.

“We had seen a rise in minor or low consequence accidents from minor scrapes and mirror breaks to low grade accidents, so we had to act,” Mr Parton said.

“We got our leadership teams and drivers together to work out how we could improve things and formed the taskforce to better understand the causes and factors behind collisions.

“Safety is our absolute must have, so it started with data and really listening to our drivers to inform the actions that would have an impact.”

For January, compared to the Sept-Dec average, Transdev’s low grade collisions reduced by 27%, serious collisions reduced by 67% and in depot collisions were down by 42%.

Those results were made possible through an innovative and comprehensive data-driven strategy, including high-collision-rate route risk assessment.

Transdev remains in a continuous process of updating training initiatives for our drivers. A mandatory spotter policy introduced for depots also contributed to reduced collision numbers.

Mr Parton said it was early days but the trend was encouraging with driver training reviews and depot management critical to success.

“While 85% of incidents where Transdev is at fault lead to only minor damages, we know that the physical and mental impact of any accident can be serious for those involved,” he said.

“When we started with this taskforce, our key focus was making sure we questioned the data to also understand the context of collisions what factors were influencing drivers, their vehicles, their depots.

“I think we’re being innovative in the industry by being so transparent and sharing the data and learnings across all our bus operations in Australia and New Zealand.

“Our depots and networks are all different but there are similar pressures and factors across different sites in different cities.”

Transdev will continue to actively monitor progress, improve training for drivers and focus on proactive communications to support further improvements.

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