genU boss outlines growth plans following restructure that resulted in significant job cuts

Geelong-based genU could double in size over the next five years after streamlining its management structure, resulting in several job losses.

genU’s headquarters on Reynolds Rd in Belmont. Photo: Alison Wynd.

Geelong-based service provider genU will embark on an aggressive growth phase following an internal review that resulted in more than 50 redundancies.

About half of the 55 roles made redundant were at management level as part of a push towards a more streamlined structure.

Chief executive Clare Amies said genU’s expansion would incorporate mergers and acquisitions, similar to its recent takeover of Tasmanian disability support provider Li-Ve.

She said the not-for-profit wanted to increase its footprint nationally across its core businesses of disability, ageing, training, and employment services.

genU currently has 220 offices – the vast majority located on the east coast – and approximately 4200 staff nationally, including 1900 in the Geelong region.

“We’re really looking at where to invest, grow, and make sure we’ve got fit for purpose services, great facilities,” Ms Amies said.

genU chief executive Clare Amies Photo: Mike Dugdale.

“We’re wanting to invest more in our frontline, ensuring it’s well supported and streamline layers of management.”

Ms Amies said the organisation’s restructure was almost complete, with some managerial announcements expected in the coming weeks.

The number of streams within genU’s community, residential and pathways division has been cut from 11 to five.

Overseen by chief operating officer Travis Heeney, the division’s consolidation is expected to result in better outcomes for clients.

Mr Heeney, formerly chief executive of GOTAFE, said no direct support roles had been made redundant.

“We need to be dedicating our finances to those direct roles … it’s the right thing moving forward,” he said.

“It was really just at looking at things and saying, ‘you know what, that’s a bit of a luxury – we can’t afford that type of management structure moving forward’.

“You don’t need 11 separate service streams, it’s just nonsensical.”

Mr Heeney said the new structure would eliminate the “siloing” of information that often led to frustration from clients.

“From a client’s perspective, they will have better connectivity between services,” he said.

As part of the restructure, genU has sold off its sole childcare facility, Pipsqueaks Early Learning Centre in Lara.

Ms Amies said the redundancy process had dragged on longer than originally planned due to Mr Heeney only joining genU earlier this year.

“Any change is pretty tough …(but) making sure we’ve got really good consultation and good communication processes,” she said.

“Our staff actually have said unanimously the consultation was really good in terms of the restructure, they were listened to and we made changes based upon what was proposed and what was finalised.

“genU has a significant history as a high-quality provider in the region and we just want to take that national.”

Originally published as genU boss outlines growth plans following restructure that resulted in significant job cuts