Retirement Living to Reach New Heights in Waitara

January 29, 2020

The Kokoda Residences has been given the green light, marking an early milestone in the delivery of this modern multi-storey seniors living tower in Waitara, on Sydney’s North Shore.

The Kokoda Residences signifies a new trend in the aged care and retirement sector, aimed at providing residents with the benefits of community-style living and easy access to important services and transport with close proximity to central city areas.

“We’re confident that the project delivery team will ensure a quality building that will complement the Vasey portfolio. This development will truly allow us to return a vibrant senior’s community to Waitara.”

Kate Gunton – Chairman, Vasey Communities

Kokoda Residences will set a new benchmark for retirement living, offering a vertical community hub complete with 117 independent living units over 12 storeys. Kokoda’s multi-storey tower design will offer residents the option of one, two or three bedroom apartments located in close proximity to the restaurants, cafes, arts and cultural attractions in the surrounding suburbs.

We are honoured to have been selected as the Managing Contractor to partner with Vasey Communities, a not-for-profit organisation that specialises in the development of secure, independent residential accommodation for members of the community in need, particularly those with a defence connection.

“We have a proud history of providing retirement living communities across Sydney and this project is a key plank in our village modernisation program.”

Kate Gunton – Chairman, Vasey Communities

With Australia’s population of 85 years and over expected to increase from 1.8% to 8% over the next 3 years, RCC appreciates the significant contribution that the Kokoda Residences will make to meeting the future demand for aged care and independent living communities.

RCC is committed to supporting the ageing populations in the communities we live and work in, and we look forward to applying our 30+ years aged care and retirement living experience to delivering what will certainly be a superior retirement living accommodation facility, and a cornerstone in Vasey Communities’ growing collection of retirement communities across Sydney.

“Both Vasey and RCC have a rich history built around integrity and care. These shared values and our specialist Retirement Living experience, will allow us to collaborate with the stakeholder team to provide a market leading facility and a home for future residents.”

– Rod Burger, General Manager of the Aged Care & Retirement Living Division RCC

 

More about the Kokoda Residences

The Kokoda Residences project consists of a new multi-storey tower offering 117 Independent Living Units over 12 levels of habitable community space with direct access to allied health, mixed retail and commercial services, multi-purpose recreation, meeting rooms and 2 storey basement parking.

The Kokoda Residences is part of the Vasey Communities’ growing portfolio of seniors living accommodation across Sydney and is scheduled for completion in 2021.

View more of RCC’s retirement living projects here.

Read more about Vasey Communities’ growing aged care living portfolio here.

 

 

Meet Neil – He Loves His Job

In celebration of being awarded the 10th Best Place to Work in Australia by Great Place to Work, RCC has interviewed 10 employees who love their job. RCC is honoured to have such passionate employees who jumped at the opportunity to share what they do, and why they love it.

 

Meet Neil Coubrough. This year marks Neil’s 20th anniversary at RCC. With two decades at RCC and a career in construction under his belt, Neil’s seen the enormous growth and evolution the industry has experienced since well before 2000.

But despite an evolving industry, Neil says the culture and camaraderie at RCC has remained steady, and combined with the security his job offers him and his family, Neil says there’s very little reason why he wouldn’t love coming to work each day.

“I think the reason why I love working at RCC has a lot to do with the people and the culture. To me it’s not about the money, it’s about working with a team and a culture that you can genuinely relate to.”

At the turn of the century, when Neil’s RCC journey began, the company was undertaking its first multistage development at the Liberty Grove Residential Complex, ahead of the huge influx of visitors for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Over the next two decades, markets would fluctuate and RCC would take on more projects across various locations and sectors. But despite a growing team taking on larger and more complex projects, Neil says RCC values have remained consistent.

“We’re all one team and we’re all trying to work to the same goal. There’s been a lot of industry change over the last 20 years, but the RCC name and the quality of everyone working here has remained the same. You come to work with your friends. Everyone wants to be here and I think that’s great for the team and the project.”

After starting out as a Sub Foreman and progressing to Site Supervisor, Neil now works within our dedicated Aged Care and Retirement Living division and is currently delivering the landmark M by Montefiore project. Throughout his career, Neil has gained experience across the various aspects of a Site Supervisor role, from structures, to facades and finishes. Now specialising in finishes, Neil’s especially thankful for the way RCC has shown consistent support for his strengths over the years.

“With RCC you have the opportunity to go from being a foreman to a project manager, to a construction manager, if you want to. For me, my path is doing what I do best, and that’s working with people on site and making it all happen on the ground. This is where I’m happy.”

Neil says his approach to managing large teams is simple;

“I think I earn people’s respect because I do what I say. If you say you’re going to get an area ready or do a certain job, you do it. Being true to your word and working safe are important RCC values for us and our clients.”

As one of the project’s go-to men, Neil’s job is all about delivering certainty to his team and the client, Montefiore. Whilst Neil says he loves his job for many reasons, he said that the certainty and security RCC has given him over the years has made the biggest impact on him and his family.

“Feeling safe and being secure is a big thing for me and RCC has always given me that.”

Neil was nominated by his colleagues for the infectious positivity and hard-working attitude he’s brought to RCC for the last 20 years.

Neil’s experience speaks volumes about RCC’s unwavering culture and camaraderie despite the growth and evolution of the industry. By valuing our teams, and specifically their unique strengths and development, a sense of security means people like Neil can become valued, long-serving employees.

 

MORE ABOUT ‘M’ BY MONTEFIORE

Neil is currently a Site Supervisor on the $106m ‘M by Montefiore’ project.

The development consists of 79 luxury Independent Living Units in Sydney’s Randwick. Each apartment features high-end design and quality finishes, setting a new benchmark for quality retirement living.

 

MORE ABOUT OUR 10TH BEST PLACE TO WORK STATUS

The Great Place to Work assessment is a feedback-based study obtained from a confidential survey of our 700+ employees. It involves an independent audit across areas like hiring and integration, health and wellness, as well as workplace culture. In celebration of being awarded the 10th Best Place to Work in Australia, RCC is interviewing 10 employees about why they love their job.

 

Learn more about Great Place To Work Australia and their 50 Best Places To Work Study.

 

 

Meet Gabby – She Loves Her Job

December 20, 2019

In celebration of being awarded the 10th Best Place to Work in Australia by Great Place to Work, RCC has interviewed 10 employees who love their job. We’re honoured to have such passionate employees who jumped at the opportunity to share what they do, and why they love it.

 

Meet Gabby McGinness. Gabby is a Contracts Administrator based in the ACT. Since joining RCC, just 18 months ago, Gabby has grown to love her job for the mentors, and for her potential to develop and progress with the company.

“After starting with RCC a year and a half ago in the CA role, I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Bob Anthony and Dave Archbold who have both been long serving RCC employees – over 20 years. They have been great mentors by always demonstrating the company values and showing me the RCC way.”

As a young cadet, Gabby says she was fortunate enough to receive invaluable mentorship from another female CA she describes as ‘strong, capable and determined’. After working hard to progress to a similar role, Gabby has now been a CA for four years – undoubtedly emulating the same hardworking attitude as her first female mentor.

“I’m working towards Senior CA at the moment, but long term I’d like to be a Contracts Manager. I’d love to manage all the head contract administration and take on more client liaison. The role also appeals to me because of the opportunity to manage and mentor a team in the same way I have been mentored.”

Gabby says that the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion with staff of various ages and levels of experience creates a positive culture and an environment where personal development and mentorship are accessible opportunities for everyone.

“There’s many times that I’ve been the only female on a project site, but I still get treated the same and have the same opportunities as my male counterparts.”

Belonging to a close-knit family herself, Gabby loves her job for the familial bond she’s formed with her team, and says site is a home away from home for her.

“My upbringing has taught me that there’s nothing more important than family, and that’s who you go above and beyond for.

When I joined RCC, I noticed this company has that same feeling within the project team and different business sectors. I think it is great that The Crookes family promote that family company mentality and invite everyone in the company to be a part of it.”

With her sights set on a prosperous career in the construction industry, it’s talented individuals like Gabby that make RCC’s team culture a supportive one. We’re proud to have a workplace that allows for progression, growth and fulfillment, but it’s our RCC family members who ultimately make this possible.

MORE ABOUT THE ANU SA8 PROJECT

The SA8 student accommodation project for the Australian National University (ANU) involves the design and construction of 1031 student accommodation beds with single occupant rooms in 8 buildings across 5-8 storeys. Designs for both SA6 and SA8 buildings are based on student surveys, emphasizing the importance of communal spaces and encouraging greater interaction between students, their families and the campus community. Having delivered the SA6 Bruce Hall Redevelopment project for ANU in 2017, RCC was honoured to be selected as the university’s construction partner to deliver the current SA8 development.

MORE ABOUT OUR 10TH BEST PLACE TO WORK STATUS 

The Great Place to Work assessment is a feedback-based study obtained from a confidential survey of our 700+ employees. It involves an independent audit across areas like hiring and integration, health and wellness, as well as workplace culture.
2018 was the first year RCC entered the assessment and we were thrilled to be awarded 17th Best Place to Work. Within a year, we rolled out a number of new initiatives to better the experiences of our people. To be recognised as the 10th Best Place to Work this year is a credit to our continued commitment to ensuring that everyone at RCC genuinely looks forward to coming to work each day.

Learn more about Great Place To Work Australia and their 50 Best Places To Work Study.

 

Experience for Constructions’ Next Generation

October 24, 2019

Our Snackbrands project at Orchard Hills hosted over 180 students from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) last month, offering them an immersive tour of the site, as well as a series of presentations from our site team.

“I just wanted to pass on a big thank you for coordinating such a great site visit for the students last week. The feedback was amazing. One student was so impressed he’s sent a thank you note of his own with his CV!

The diligence displayed by the RCC team, ensuring every student was signed in and inducted, coordinating manageable and safe group sizes and then escorting each group around the site speaks volumes about RCC’s unwavering commitment to site safety and planning”

Craig Barry – UTS Lecturer

These Construction Management and Civil Engineering students represent the future of our industry; we are proud to be involved in their transition from classroom to construction site and give them a firsthand insight into safe and sustainable construction practice.

 

 

RCC: 10th Best Place to Work in Australia!

September 12, 2019

RCC is thrilled to be recognised as the 10th Best Place to Work in Australia – a milestone achievement that reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that everyone at RCC genuinely looks forward to coming into work each day.

The Great Place to Work (GPTW) assessment is a feedback-based study obtained from a confidential survey of our 600+ employees and an independent audit across 9 practice areas. See the results of the 2019 GPTW study here.

2018 was our first evaluation in the study, and to be named 17th in our category (100-999 employees) was a remarkable achievement, to which we are incredibly proud.

Following our success last year, 2019 saw the integration of several new initiatives entirely unique to RCC and the support, development and appreciation of our growing teams. We feel that it is a combination of our highly talented employees and RCC’s unique culture, value-oriented initiatives that we are now considered among Australia’s top 10 Best Places to Work.

 

 

“Recognition as one of the Greatest Places to Work in Australia is a significant achievement for RCC in a demanding and pressurised construction market. To make it to the top 10 is an outstanding result.”

“For me, what makes RCC great is our people. They are our best assets, and this result reflects their contribution to the business and work environment and our commitment to ensuring their voice is heard as we continue to grow.”

Jamie Crookes – Managing Director of Richard Crookes Constructions

 

We are a private, family-owned company dedicated to building an open, honest and collaborative culture that is fulfilling for all our staff. We have a lot of heart for what we do for each other.

It would be no surprise that RCC’s most fundamental value is family.  Being a private, family-owned company dedicated to building an open, honest and collaborative culture means that coming to work at RCC is more than just a job for all our staff. New members are welcomed into the RCC family right from day one, including an induction that sets the tone for the business they have joined. We ensure that all new starters have a number of activities to complete to help form part of their integration plan.  They are set up with a “buddy” to help them with everything they need to comfortably transition into the business. Our founder, Richard Crookes, personally welcomes all new starters and we find it is this familial touch that sets RCC apart from other large companies.

Similarly, our staff appreciation events encourage RCC teams to spend time with their families whilst team building – whether it’s at the zoo, running the City2Surf or in an Italian style cooking class. Events like these are important to us, but it’s the enthusiasm of our employees which make them memorable.

RCC offers an environment that can facilitate career growth, personal opportunity and an exciting workplace through its diversification.  Being a family business means that family is high on the agenda at RCC providing family-based benefits including generous paid parental leave packages, additional paid annual leave to encourage more time spent with family and friend, family days out and much more.

Growing our own has always been a fundamental principle of how we manage the business therefore we invest heavily in technical training, personal development as well as a suite of team building activities which form a consistent and dynamic social calendar. Since our success in 2018, we have unveiled a suite of initiatives including a Women Leading program, Health & Wellbeing and Workplace Giving Programs – all working to help maintain our strong commitment to a thriving and lively workplace. They’re also fundamental to our company’s core values: Client First; Delivering Certainty; We Do What We Say; Family Values; and First Step Safety.

 

 

RCC is also committed to celebrating the achievement of our people; our best asset. Complimentary to our staff initiatives is our Rewards and Recognition program that recognises the outstanding behaviour and performance of our employees. RCC’s Hats Off awards encourages peer-to-peer appreciation for those who go above and beyond, and we regularly celebrate key project milestones throughout the year. We also support informal team appreciation events to build an organic, in-team culture.

To be ranked 10th Best Place to Work in Australia is confirmation that we value a supportive, fulfilling and dynamic work environment – and RCC employees agree.

Do you think you would enjoy the journey of working on exciting projects, with highly skilled, passionate people in a positive and supportive workplace? Find out what it’s like to be part of the RCC family…

 

RCC in the Top 50 Best Places to Work in Australia

August 30, 2018

Recognition as one of the Best Places to Work in Australia is a significant achievement for RCC in a demanding and pressurised construction market. Our employees are our best asset, consequently this award means even more knowing it is a result of their experience. The Great Place to Work assessment is based on feedback obtained from a confidential survey of our 600 employees and an independent cultural audit across 9 practice areas.

To be named 17th in our category (100-999 employees), amongst companies such as Salesforce and Stryker in our first year of evaluation is an outstanding achievement for RCC and a reflection of our personnel’s commitment to each other, our clients and the industry. See the full results of the 2018 GPTW study here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The goal to provide a fulfilling and supportive work environment prompted us to submit an application to become an Employer of Choice and make it to the Top 50 Best Places to Work in Australia.  We set out to understand our employee experience in the context of Australia’s best workplaces, to highlight focus areas for future commitment and to ultimately be recognised as a Great Place to Work.

We did it. We are honoured to have been recognised as a Great Place to Work in our first year of evaluation.

This acknowledgment compliments our recent recognition in the Employee Engagement Awards (2017) and highlights the strength of our culture of high performance, development, autonomy and collaboration.

The Best Places to Work awards are based on an independent study coordinated by the Great Place to Work Institute. Great Place to Work Australia is an organisation, whose recognition has become an international standard for excellence in workplace culture. After more than 30 years of research the Institute operate across 44 countries, surveying 6,200 companies annually.

“THE 50 BEST ARE SETTING THE STANDARD FOR ALL BUSINESSES.”
Zrinka Lovrencic – Managing Director of Great Place to Work Australia

 

RCC is committed to the ongoing improvement of our employee experience in the hope that our staff continue to enjoy the journey as the company grows and evolves. This recognition reflects the passion, commitment and fun that our people bring to work everyday.

“WE ARE PROUD TO BE RECOGNISED BY OUR PEOPLE AS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO WORK IN AUSTRALIA. WE BELIEVE WE ARE DOING GREAT THINGS AND THIS ACCREDITATION MEANS THAT OUR BEST ASSET, OUR EMPLOYEES, AGREE.
FOR ME, OUR PEOPLE ARE WHAT MAKES RCC GREAT, AND THAT DRIVES US TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN REALISE THEIR PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATIONS AND DELIVER QUALITY OUTCOMES FOR OUR CLIENTS”
Jamie Crookes – Managing Director of Richard Crookes Constructions

 

Do you think you would enjoy the journey of working on exciting projects, with highly skilled, passionate people in a positive and supportive workplace? Find out what it’s like to be part of the RCC family…

 

If you are interested to know more about the RCC Family, our values and what makes RCC a Great Place to Work then follow us on social media and stay tuned for our ‘Meet the Family’ series!

 

 

Women’s Forum – ‘because of her, we can’

July 5, 2018

‘Because of her, we can’ – the NAIDOC Week 2018 theme was the inspiration behind July’s RCC Women’s Forum.

We were lucky enough to be able to explore the theme of ‘Because of her, we can’ through the words of Sandra Gadd and the modern native bush tucker cuisine of Jo-Ann from Goanna Hut.
We all then enjoyed a training session with Vanessa from Learning Circle Co, who took us through an interactive course on identifying and chasing career goals and building our personal brand.

Our series of Women in Construction Forums provide employees with a chance to share knowledge, learn and develop… over lunch (of course)! It’s also an important way for us to acknowledge the contribution and achievements of our staff and thank them for their dedication!

 

 

Breakfast Point Aerial

Building Breakfast Point

June 21, 2018

RCC and the Rose Property Group joined forces more than 13 years ago to develop a former gasworks site into a thriving Sydney suburb.

RCC is proud of our strong residential experience and the thousands of homes we have provided for Australians to live and create memories in. Today, we are celebrating our collaborative partnership and the friendship we have developed in the making of the Breakfast Point community with a short video.

Hear from the RCC project team and our client, Rose Property Group about the special magic in all 20 stages and 1300 apartments!

 

SummitCare RACF Complete

November 23, 2017

RCC partnered with the SummitCare team to take aged care and retirement living to the next level with a facility that combines technology with a homely, high end hotel feel.

“To RCC, our builders, it has been an absolute pleasure, and an outstanding result. To Jamie, Rod and everyone in the Crookes team; you have been a delight to work with and I couldn’t recommend you more highly”
                                                                                    Peter Wohl, Owner at SummitCare

Our collaborative partnered approach to innovative aged care projects is evident in our delivery of the $50m Baulkham Hills SummitCare RACF facility. We were honoured to attend the grand opening of the facility to celebrate with SummitCare and the various stakeholders who contributed to the successful delivery of this quality development.

The new facility houses 236 beds for residents, a dementia centre, behavioural secure unit and specialised palliative care and includes state of the art GPON fibre optic technology, integrating the nurse call and ICT. Chada Interior Design, known for their high-end hospitality design, leveraged their experience to create a home for residences that resembles a luxury hotel, featuring bespoke custom rugs, joinery and room finishes and fixtures.

“At RCC we pride ourselves on a collaborative, client first approach, so It’s great to see our team acknowledged for the quality of their delivery as well as their attitude to working with the client team and stakeholders on the Baulkham Hills project”
                       Rod Burger, General Manager- Aged Care and Retirement Living at RCC

RCC used the Early Contractor Involvement period to design a new structural system that allowed for the use of modular bathrooms in the 186 bathrooms and worked through site issues in an effort to hand $1.5m back to the client.

Our project was delivered on time, in 18 months and has been a huge success for the wider team. RCC is proud to have been part of the delivery of one of the largest and technologically advanced RACF’s in NSW, with a focus on providing a facility that creates a home for future residents in a sustainable environment today and into the future.

As a family owned company with a strong emphasis on community, RCC understands the importance of designing and building aged care developments that contribute to social infrastructure and feel like home for residents.