AWB Limited - 2003 Annual Report

AWB has committed itself to a thorough process of
communication and consultation with grower organisations
and community representatives.
our grower community
AWB continues to play an active support and developmental role in
regional communities. Ongoing sponsorship programs were
continued with groups such as Women In Agriculture and Partners
in Grain, as well as key industry events such as Grains Week, and
Agriculture Australia.
The annual sponsorship program represents a significant
investment in the industry and in country Australia by AWB.
Regionally based sponsorships were also provided to a small
country hospital, rural media awards, grains innovation awards,
agricultural show societies and research foundations and farming
groups. This is complemented by a thorough process of
communication and consultation with farming organisations and
community representatives.
In addition, AWB has created a further link with grain growers
across Australia through the formation of 14 Grower Consultative
Groups (GCGs) and the continuation of the Managing Director’s
Roundtable.
The GCGs are regionally based groups that facilitate two way
communication between growers and AWB to allow the company to
better meet grower requirements. It is intended the groups meet
three times per year. The Managing Director’s Roundtable operates
simultaneously and allows selected Roundtable growers to provide
direct strategic advice to the Managing Director of the company.
In response to the drought’s impact on regional communities, AWB
launched a concerted effort to assist by establishing a special
drought committee during 2002. More than $35,000 was raised
via staff initiatives and donations, and these contributions were
matched dollar for dollar by AWB. These funds were used to hold
Christmas functions in 25 of the hardest hit, grain growing
communities across regional Australia, with extremely positive
feedback.
Grower Advocate
AWB has introduced a new Complaints Handling Procedure for
growers, overseen by the Grower Advocate. Under the new system,
the Grower Advocate acts on behalf of the Managing Director to
seek rapid and mutually beneficial resolutions to grower complaints.
The process complies with the Australian Standard for complaints
handling (AS 4269) and is intended to cater for written complaints
regarding a grower or grower group’s grain marketing transactions
with the AWB Group.
It offers improved transparency, and the right for growers to request
intervention (by the Grower Advocate) if they feel their rights under
the process have not been observed or that the complaint has not
been resolved to their satisfaction. The program is a critical part of
AWB's commitment to continuous improvement in the level and
quality of services provided to Australian grain growers.
INNOVATION FOCUS TO DELIVER NEW Sense OPPORTUNITIES
of community.
Ross Haebich, Craig Prescott
and Craig Blick, Growers
Harry Prescott, Grower
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