Basic HTML Version
APN
annual report
2011
/
19
people
and culture
Talent development and
employee engagement
are fundamental to the
successful operation and
future direction of APN.
The Company made a
number of significant
investments in its people
during 2011.
eMPLoyee AssisTANCe
ProGrAM
The Employee Assistance
Program
, which offers APn
employees access to free
confidential counselling services,
was especially important
following the 2011 natural
disasters. In new Zealand,
additional counselling sessions,
as well as group sessions, were
made available to all affected
print and publishing staff. In
Australia, the program was
extended to include employee
self-referrals to attend special
counselling sessions.
fAsT TrACK ProGrAM
APN’s Fast Track Program
offers a small number of talented
individuals with three to 10 years’
professional experience the
opportunity to work in a range of
APn’s newspaper, radio, digital
and outdoor businesses over a
two year period. the program is
designed to give the participants
exposure to a variety of media
businesses and projects, while
the businesses benefit from
their capabilities, capacity
and enthusiasm.
the first intake successfully
completed their initial year of
the Fast track Program in April
2011 and in August we welcomed
a second cohort of motivated
individuals to APn. At the
conclusion of the program, these
people will move into key roles
across the Company.
TALeNT DeVeLoPMeNT
APN conducted
an organisation-
wide review of its high
performing employees and
identified around 250 people
(6% of APn’s employees) as
having current or potential
leadership qualities. APn then
agreed development plans with
them as part of a succession
planning process. 24 of these
people were offered the
opportunity to participate in
APn’s executive leadership
Development Program (elDP),
a program run in collaboration
with the Queensland university
of technology. the elDP
aims to strengthen leadership
capability through residential
sessions, ongoing group tasks
and mentoring, equipping them
to contribute to the achievement
of APn’s strategic objectives.
sALes DeVeLoPMeNT
ProGrAM
APN rolled out
its Sales
Development Program across
key parts of its Australian
regional media and new
Zealand media divisions. this
program gives participating sales
teams the opportunity to further
their skills on the job, while
working towards a nationally
recognised Certificate IV in
Business Sales. the program
is eligible for funding rebates.
Participants are trained in a
number of key areas including
improved knowledge and skills
around digital products.