Introducing... Getting it Right, with Craig Foster

When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, former Socceroos captain Craig Foster’s phone started ringing off the hook.

The popular Australian footballer realised how lucky he’d been to follow his passion and had mobilised his enormous profile in the sporting and media world to become a human rights activist.

So when that phone started ringing, he started doing everything in his power to get as many Afghan women as possible out of the country, to safer ground in Australia.

The next round of phone calls were from major companies offering jobs and support for the newly arrived Afghan community. They secured jobs and training, and it opened Craig’s eyes to social procurement as the key to unlocking good outcomes for both the women and the employers.

If you’ve ever had someone take a chance on you, you’ll understand how important that open door can be.  If you’re able to make new hires, sign off on contracts and write policies, it’s critical you're reaching the right people.

It’s critical you get it right.

Getting it Right is all about hiring, buying and working with purpose.

You’ll hear from industry leaders who’ve gone above and beyond to provide opportunities for those who need them – and you’ll hear from the people who took those opportunities and ran with them.

You’ll also learn how to create social impact through your supply chain from people who’ve been involved in the process.

Getting it Right is a Jobsbank podcast, produced by Deadset Studios, hosted by Craig Foster.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Hayden Heta (00:01):
Social procurement isn't something we should be scared of.

Craig Foster (00:06):
Have you ever had a lucky break when someone took
a chance on you because they saw something that nobody
else did and knew just what to do to draw
it out?
Someone who really listened to what you needed and did
everything in their power to help you succeed.
I'm Craig Foster. I used to play football for Australia

(00:26):
when I retired from the Socceroos, I realized how lucky
I've been to follow my passion and it hit me,
I needed to use my voice that profile I'd built
to speak up for people who weren't as fortunate. So
I became a human rights activist.
That's why when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021,

(00:48):
I did what I could to get as many Afghan
women as possible out of the country to safer ground
here in Australia? My phone was ringing off the hook
with people from major companies wanting to offer jobs and
support to the newly arrived Afghan community.
Some of these incredibly skilled women secured jobs in the
hospitality industry. Others are training as bank tellers and have

(01:10):
slowly started to rebuild their lives. Without this kind of
outreach from business leaders, these Afghan women faced a long
road to financial stability, a common experience for refugees who
speak little english, often with no support networks to smooth
the way
I've seen up close, how an open door can change lives.

(01:34):
So is it just up to a few leaders with
big hearts to do the right thing in the moment?
Or is there a way to scale a good decision
so that it works not just for your business but
for society at large? Well, the good news is that
these lucky breaks are often not luck at all, but
good policy, good practices and good design. And when you're
in the position to make the new hire, sign off

(01:55):
on the contracts and write the policies, it's even more
important that you're reaching the right people. It's crucial that
you get it right.
Whether it's creating an inclusive work environment, generating real social
change through your procurement strategies or just making sure that

(02:15):
your company values are at the heart of all business
decisions Jobsbank are experts in unlocking people and potential
Through their new podcast "Getting it right" with me, Craig
Foster, Jobsbank wants you to meet the people whose lives have
changed because of those open doors.

(02:39):
You'll hear from workers with disabilities who found new meaning
and jobs suited to their needs and their strengths.

Mark Golotta (02:46):
People have stepped up and stepped into jobs that they
probably would never have even considered before because it's just
broken down into what they can do. And then they
thrive with that when they're thriving and when they're comfortable
and when they're confident they're doing their best work. So
in turn, great work is getting done.

Craig Foster (03:07):
You'll hear from women who finally found a safe place
to thrive and you'll hear from the companies who are
changing the game. Thanks to their commitment to creating social
change through their business practices.

Hayden Heta (03:18):
Once you unpack it and you start thinking about the
social outcomes, you start creating this biggest story of the
reasons why why does the social procurement framework exist, then
you start to see some amazing, amazing outcomes.

Sue Boyce (03:33):
Let's not be an afterthought. Can you come and sit
down with us and let's work out what we could
actually do for you and build it into your supply chain.

Craig Foster (03:43):
Getting it right is about unlocking people and potential. Make
sure you're following us in your podcast app, so you
don't miss an episode. There's plenty of inspiring stories, chock
full of practical lessons, no matter if you're a big company,
small business, government department or not for profit.
Getting it right is a Jobsbank podcast produced by Deadset

(04:06):
Studios and hosted by me, Craig Foster.