Corporate Responsibility (CR) reporting is an important tool for accountability and transparency. We have been publicly reporting on our performance and future commitments since 2007.
You may be aware that Vodafone and Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Limited (3) have announced an agreement to merge their telecommunications businesses in Australia.
Despite these changes, we want to ensure that we are clearly communicating Vodafone Australia’s CR performance for the previous reporting period to our stakeholders.
Using the year and issue menus below, view annual updates on our CR commitments and performance for 2007, 2008 and 2009.We are working with our suppliers and partners to provide responsible and ethical products, services and communications that meet the expectations of our customers and stakeholders.
| We Said | We Have | Status at 31 March 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| By October 2008:
Inform our sub-contractors about Vodafone's occupational health and safety (OHS) policies. Ensure that appropriate feedback measures are in place to measure the level of adherence to these policies. |
We have provided an explanation of our OHS policies on our website covering a range of our OHS requirements including incident reporting processes and induction training. In addition to the information we provide online, OHS policies are communicated in contracts to the suppliers that we perceive as having a 'high' or 'potentially significant' OHS risk. We are currently exploring the development of an online tool to provide a systematic approach to the management and dissemination of our OHS policies for both suppliers and Vodafone staff. The feedback process to measure adherence to these policies is performed through our Supplier Performance Management process. |
Achieved
 |
| By March 2009:
Investigate expanding Parental Lock to filter general Internet content to further protect our customers from inappropriate content. |
We have investigated the expansion of Parental Lock beyond our proprietary network (Vodafone live!) to incorporate off-net content included in the Internet Watch Foundation blacklist. The Government is currently undertaking a trial of internet filtering. We have not introduced this expansion of Parental Lock to our customers. |
Achieved
|
| By March 2009:
Ensure 80% of our local strategic and preferred suppliers are aware of, acting on and reporting their compliance with Vodafone's Code of Ethical Purchasing. |
We are currently completing the process of ensuring that 80% of our suppliers are aware of, acting on and reporting their compliance with our Code of Ethical Purchasing. At present, evaluation of performance is occurring and feedback is being given to our suppliers. This commitment is due for completion by the end of April 2009. |
In Progress
 |
| By March 2009:
Deliver online privacy training to 100% of our employees. |
We have delivered a Vodafone Group online privacy training module to 100% of our employees. The roll out of the training module has also resulted in the appointment of a Privacy Officer. All employees are expected to have completed the training module by the end of April 2009. |
Achieved
|
| By March 2009:
Benchmark Vodafone's practices on mobile advertising and privacy with other industry leaders. |
The benchmarking exercise indicated that we are the only mobile carrier in Australia that has developed a policy governing mobile advertising. The Vodafone Mobile Advertising Charter outlines our commitments in relation to mobile advertising and privacy protection. |
Achieved
|
| By March 2009:
Work with the wider industry to explore ways to create common codes of conduct for mobile advertising. |
In early 2008 we explored opportunities to develop a code of conduct to govern mobile advertising across the industry. Given other policy priorities and resourcing issues it was decided to not pursue this at the present time. |
Not Achieved
 |
| By March 2009:
Update our Managed Partner Accreditation Handbook to incorporate the changes to the Guidelines and Standard Industry Arrangements. |
We updated our Managed Partner Accreditation Handbook in November 2008 to incorporate the consumer protection provisions included in the draft Mobile Premium Services Code and the lessons we have learnt since the release of our first Handbook in 2006. Enforcement of the provisions included in the updated Managed Partner Accreditation Handbook began in January 2009. Over the last twelve months, we suspended fourteen premium text services and issued fines totalling $101,000 for inappropriate content and spam. |
Achieved
|
| By March 2009:
Launch a web-based resource centre to promote safety and the responsible use of mobiles and technology. |
Vodafone Group is currently developing collateral to assist all Vodafone local operating companies to roll out online resources to promote safety and the responsible use of mobiles and technology. This is expected to be made available in May 2009. | Not Achieved
|
We are focused on creating an inspiring and inclusive workplace that promotes wellbeing and respect. We are committed to offering opportunities for employee engagement, attractive incentives and innovative development.
| We Said | We Have | Status at 31 March 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| By September 2008:
Maintain our top quartile position among Hewitt Best Employers in Australia and New Zealand. |
We achieved an engagement score of 73% in the 2008 Hewitt Best Employers. This result places Vodafone Australia in the top quartile position among Hewitt Best Employers in Australia and New Zealand. | Achieved
 |
| By March 2009:
Mobilise 1400 people, whether it be our employees, partners, families or friends, to volunteer their time and work with the community. |
We successfully mobilised 869 of our people and 2330 of our partners through the Vodafone Australia Foundation to volunteer their time and work with the community. As a result, our people contributed 1623 days of volunteering to the community which represents an 800% increase on the previous year's total. |
Achieved
|
| By March 2009:
Maintain or improve lost time accident performance (from the 2007/08 baseline). |
We successfully reduced our lost time accident (LTA) performance from 5 incidents in 2007/08 to 4 in 2008/09. This equates to an LTA Frequency rate of 2.94 per 1000 employees. We observed an increase in occupational health problems over the period within our Customer Operations area. Causes, which include changes in work culture, work methods and workload, are currently being addressed. |
Achieved
|
| By March 2009:
Contribute to Vodafone Group's global inclusion strategy. |
We contributed to Vodafone Group's global inclusion strategy by working with them to develop a local Diversity Plan for Vodafone Australia. The Plan delivers against global goals for diversity and supports us to leverage the potential in our diversity at a local level. As part of the plan we launched a key note speaker series and an internal women's network, aimed at supporting our female employees to perform at their best. |
Achieved
|
| By March 2009:
Maintain top quartile performance for our wellbeing measures on the global Vodafone people survey. |
We successfully maintained our top quartile performance for wellbeing measures by achieving 83% in the global Vodafone people survey. Our wellbeing program included health assessments and wellness coaching, flu vaccinations, travel health services, counselling services for employees and family, resilience training and a range of online wellbeing tips and support services. |
Achieved
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| By March 2009:
Ensure that 100% of eligible employees in the business have an annual performance dialogue and development discussion with their line manager. |
100% of eligible employees completed a mid year performance dialogue and development discussion during October and November 2008. | Achieved
|
We are committed to the sustainable management of all our operations and take the responsibility to minimise our impact on the environment very seriously.
| We Said | We Have | Status at 31 March 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| By December 2008:
Introduce electronic billing for all retail customers. |
We introduced electronic billing for all of our retail customers in August 2008. At 31 March, 51.22% of our retail customers had opted in for this service. All new consumer customers are set up on electronic billing at point of connection. Existing customers who choose to continue receiving a paper bill are charged $2+GST. Customers who are disadvantaged or have special circumstances are provided with a paper bill upon request at no extra charge. Electronic billing is currently being explored within the business space. This phased approach is due to the business billing space being more complex than general consumer billing. In addition to promoting the move to electronic billing, we are also investigating more environmentally friendly paper stocks for our paper billing to ensure that we minimise our environmental impact in this space. |
Achieved
 |
| By December 2008:
Reduce packaging for all Vodafone SIM packs. |
In April 2008, we rolled out new SIM packaging for 70% of all our pre-paid and post-paid accounts. With significant redesign, we reduced both the total weight of our SIM packaging and the production processes required. | Achieved
|
| By March 2009:
Develop a climate change strategy to determine Vodafone Australia's contribution to the 50% reduction target in CO2 emissions led by Vodafone Group. |
As a result of consultation with Vodafone Group and our local Energy Management Team, we developed an internal climate change strategy that will guide us in our efforts to assist Vodafone Group reach their 50% reduction in CO2 emissions target. | Achieved
|
| By March 2009:
Increase the number of mobiles collected through MobileMuster by 50%. |
We increased the number of handsets recycled through MobileMuster that are attributable to Vodafone Australia by 54% year on year, collecting a total of 49,087 handsets. Over the same period we collected more than 3500kg of batteries compared to 2000kg in 2007/08. We collected an additional 8000kg of accessories compared to 3210kg in 2007/08. |
Achieved
|
| By March 2009:
Conduct a waste audit on all office buildings and contact centres. We'll also revise our waste management strategy to minimise waste generation and maximise opportunities for resource recovery. |
We conducted waste audits in all of our offices and contact centres to ensure appropriate waste management processes were in place. We employed qualified waste consultants to conduct a comprehensive waste audit and analysis in 94% of our offices and contact centres. The results of this will assist us to educate all of our staff about the importance of maximising recycling at work and at home. In addition to the waste audits, we worked with our network partners to review their waste management processes in order to ensure reuse and recycling opportunities were being maximised. We also revised and updated our waste management strategy to minimise waste generation and maximise opportunities for resource recovery in all of our operations going forward. |
Achieved
|
| By March 2009:
Send for reuse and recycling 95% of network equipment waste during the year. |
We reused and recycled 93.4% of our network equipment waste. Whilst this figure is lower than our target, we have increased our recycling and reuse rate since 2007/08 by 2.9%. | Not Achieved
 |
| By March 2010:
Conduct a water audit on all office buildings and contact centres and develop a water management strategy to reduce our water consumption across the business. |
Our landlords conducted a NABERS water audit of the base building consumption in our head office in Chatswood. The building achieved a 3 star rating. A comprehensive audit on our other sites and development of a water management strategy is scheduled for completion during 2009/10. | In Progress
|
| By 2020:
Reduce CO2 emissions at a Group level by 50% against its 2006/07 baseline target of 1.23 million tonnes. |
We are assisting Vodafone Group as they develop initiatives to reduce our CO2 emissions. As the majority of our emissions are created through energy consumption in our network, focus will be placed upon improving energy efficiency in this space. | In Progress
 |
We are committed to working with the communities in which we operate to understand their expectations and needs.
| We Said | We Have | Status at 31 March 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| By March 2009:
Issue an update to land owners on the latest scientific research on electro-magnetic energy and invite them to contact us for further information. |
In early 2009, we issued an update to land owners on the latest scientific research of electro-magnetic energy with further site safety and contact information. We also surveyed our landlords to allow us to improve our processes and ensure that we maintain positive relationships with these important stakeholders. |
Achieved
 |
| By March 2009:
Maintain an external stakeholder opinion approval rating on how responsibly Vodafone Group is acting in regard to mobile phones, masts and health as a rolling average at, or above, 80% over any three year period. |
Vodafone Group's annual survey to measure stakeholder opinion found that over the last three years, an average of 78% of respondents believe that Vodafone take their responsibilities to mobile phones, masts and health 'very' or 'fairly seriously'. When asked about the Vodafone Group website, 85% of respondents indicated that Vodafone demonstrated a responsible approach to mobile phones, masts and health to 'some extent' or a 'great extent'. |
Not Achieved
 |
| By March 2009:
Provide comprehensive access to peer-reviewed published scientific reviews of research relating to mobile phones, masts and health from our website. |
Since 2001, there have been a significant number of expert reviews of scientific research studies into mobile phones, masts and health published by expert panels around the world. In conjunction with Vodafone Group, we provide an online summary and comprehensive access to the peer reviewed published scientific reviews that were published from 2006 to 2008. Check out Vodafone Group's research summary. |
Achieved
|
| By March 2010:
Conduct training or briefing sessions on mobile technology, safety and health with all Vodafone departments. |
We delivered an online training module or briefing sessions to all our departments. We also provided our network partners with a regulatory update on Electro Magnetic Fields (EMF) and are currently undertaking training sessions with our retail partner management teams. This may be accompanied by the introduction of an e-learning module for all retail staff. | Achieved
|
| By March 2010:
Verify/audit subcontractors' compliance with Vodafone's policy on Responsible Network Deployment in all Vodafone operations. |
We have worked closely with our network deployment partners to ensure the Vodafone Responsible Network Deployment policies are applied appropriately to Australian conditions. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure their operations comply with all relevant components of our policies. |
In Progress
 |
CR reporting allows us to publicly report on our performance and future commitments to our stakeholders.
| We Said | We Have | Status at 31 March 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| By March 2009:
Conduct deep dive research with one stakeholder group to further understand our reputation and the effectiveness of our communication. |
We engaged Allen Consulting Group to undertake a perceptions audit amongst a small sample of Government stakeholders. The findings from this in-depth survey are being used to inform our stakeholder engagement strategy. | Achieved
 |
Download our 2009 CR Report
Feedback
We welcome your feedback on our report. If you would like to provide feedback or discuss any aspects of our Corporate Responsibility performance, please contact our Corporate Responsibility team at corporateresponsibility.au@vodafone.com.
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