When the topic of cleaning comes up, its potential for social impact is rarely at the forefront of the conversation - but here at ASRC Cleaning, we understand how powerful that impact can be.

From 2020 to 2022, despite the challenges COVID-19 presented, ASRC Cleaning continued operating with the understanding that nothing is more important than providing financial security and opportunities for our staff with lived experience of seeking asylum. Our Social Enterprise was able to support 61 members with ongoing payments in a period when domestic cleaning was not allowed and commercial services had complex restrictions. This was made possible by the backing of our customers, who kept their domestic and commercial cleaning services running. 

Even when cleaning services were cancelled, customers chose to continue their payments to ensure their regular cleaners still received an income for what would be their usual hours of employment. Commenting on this kind gesture, Nicole Zannoni, the ASRC Cleaning Program Manager, says, “It’s small actions such as this that shows us, and our staff, that we are backed by the community. It gives us hope!”

Nicole shares that she loves the ASRC community because “we have such loyal customers who support our staff above all else.” 

An exciting addition to the ASRC Cleaning repertoire is the ‘End-of-Lease Service’ which can include professional carpet steam cleaning (also available as a stand-alone service). In the last year, twelve members took the opportunity to upskill by undertaking training to operate the machinery for domestic carpet steam cleaning.  

Introducing professional carpet steam cleaning not only increased revenue, but introduced another avenue for ASRC Cleaning’s staff to learn a new skill, and advance their knowledge. 

This circles back to the principles of our Social Enterprise, creating future employment opportunities, transferable skills, and better financial support for people seeking asylum and refugees. 

PATHWAYS TO GROW

At ASRC Cleaning, we offer our staff further pathways to grow in confidence and move into leadership positions within the Social Enterprise. This is especially important to us, as all people seeking safety and freedom deserve to maintain their independence and connect to the broader Australian experience. To develop this pathway towards growth, there are two part-time Team Leader positions and one full-time Senior Team Leader position within the Cleaning Enterprise. 

Nicole (ASRC Cleaning Program Manager) has established a great relationship with the team leading staff, specifically, Senior Team Leader, Haziq. On their 2.5-year-long working relationship, Nicole says, “He shows great confidence and has built strong relationships with the cleaning team and with our loyal customers. I have seen him advance into the team leader role first, and now he is our first ever senior team leader within ASRC Cleaning.”

Reflecting on his growth as a senior manager, Haziq noted “This role (Senior Team leader) has made me push myself out of my comfort zone, and grow as a person. I was often nervous and intimidated at first to go out on site inspection, to meet new commercial clients. It was a stressful experience, and I didn’t feel confident in myself.”

Haziq worked hard to build that confidence and soon came into his own as a team leader.

As Team Leader, Haziq’s goal is now to inspire his team members, Choo and Azeroo, to follow a similar growth curve that he went through. “Building relationships is now what I love to do, it excites me, and I want to support others to feel the same and get this confidence I now feel like I have!”.

THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE

Today, clients in our community who utilize ASRC Cleaning’s services can witness first-hand the hard work, dedication and skill that people seeking asylum and refugees possess, more than ever before. 

Both commercial and domestic customers are encouraged to continue hiring our services (domestic services based on a waitlist process for the time being), not only to obtain the best quality cleaning services available in Melbourne but also as a way to integrate people seeking asylum and refugees into our communities.

If you are interested in commercial services visit https://www.cleaning.asrc.org.au/commercial-services or join the waitlist for domestic services at https://www.cleaning.asrc.org.au/contact.