Optus

Empowering our people to innovate, upskill and take on new challenges is a big part of our culture, especially when it comes to working in an AI enabled future. Last month 250 Optus employees from across 41 departments rolled up their sleeves and participated in our inaugural AI Hackathon. No technical experience required – just enthusiasm, curiosity, and a willingness to learn. The task: to identify how an AI copilot might supercharge how we work, empowering us to bring our best selves to work every day so we can deliver the most for our customers. With each team participating in workshops, pitch development sessions and mentorship over two days, the competition was fierce. Most excitingly, all of the teams, not just the winners, will have the opportunity to directly contribute to Optus’ AI strategy by having their ideas considered for development. Congratulations to the winners and to everyone involved!

Each year, one of Australia’s biggest country music festivals draws thousands of people to Queensland’s Amamoor State Forest 🤠🌵🐎   The Gympie Music Muster has raised millions of dollars for charities and community groups, and Optus is very proud to have supported this event for over 20 years.

Volunteering with St Patrick's Community Support Centre had a profound impact on the Optus employees who dedicated their time last week to transform facilities for those experiencing homelessness in Fremantle.   Thank you Michael Piu for all the work you do, and we hope the communities you serve enjoy the renovations.

This R U OK? Day we welcomed Julie Goodwin, Australia's first MasterChef, to Optus.   Julie shared the ups and downs of her life story, discussing the importance of focusing on your mental health and asking for help. Her key message was to be courageous; ask yourself if you are ok, ask your friends and family, and be brave enough to answer truthfully.   Following the session our people connected over morning tea, writing kindness messages to each other, and reflecting that a conversation could save a life. #OptusLife #Wellbeing #RUOKDay

“Before Donate Your Data, I would only recharge my phone when absolutely necessary. I had to be very careful with my data usage, keeping it strictly for calls and texts.”    Growing up, James sometimes felt like he didn’t fit in because he missed out on the things other kids had at school.    But his dream of becoming an engineer propelled him forward, and when he got access to free data through Optus and The Smith Family, it was a game-changer for him. Now, as a university student, he can access educational resources without limitations.    Looking for a way to give back? Consider helping Australians in need by donating some of your data with an eligible mobile plan. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/g8jkWBaJ  

This Women’s Health Week, our people came together to discuss how the pressure to ‘have it all’ and be contactable 24/7 can contribute to burnout. Our onsite GP Dr Sam Parimalanathan and EAP clinician Dr Julie Bajic spoke about how to identify, prevent and manage burnout, and highlighted the importance of: ⭐ Setting healthy expectations and boundaries for yourself.  ⭐ Implementing practical solutions to improve sleep and switch off.  ⭐ Recognising that burnout can affect us all, regardless of seniority, age, or gender. Thank you to our host Roxanne Tyler, our women’s network Elevate and our Wellbeing community for organising such a valuable event and giving people the opportunity to share their stories. #WomensHealthWeek 

Creating an Optus where our people can bring their true selves to work is what our employee network Express Yourself is all about. Thank you Nate for sharing your story about the impact of being part of this wonderful community 💜 #OptusLife

What a thrill to have the incomparable Courtney Act join us to celebrate Wear it Purple Day! In a warm, funny and moving discussion with Wear It Purple’s Brandon LA. Daley, they chatted about their experiences coming out in different generations, their biggest inspirations and supports, and their best piece of advice for LGBTQIA+ youth. Optus is proud to empower and affirm young people who identify as LGBTQIA+ on this important day and encourage them to express their true selves at work and beyond. Thank you to our employee networks Express Yourself and Young Professionals, who joined forces to bring this fabulous event to life. #WearItPurple #YourPassionYourPride #OptusLife

It’s no secret that scam messages are becoming harder to spot. Do you think you could tell the difference? This Scams Awareness Week, we took to the streets of Sydney to find out.  Although Optus blocked more than 36 million SMS scams from our network from March – June this year, scams are continuously evolving. Identifying a scam is made easier for Optus customers through Optus ScamWise, which provides visibility on trending scams and allows you to report suspicious messages. It’s available now in My Optus app. More information: https://lnkd.in/gjTpbwmk National Anti-Scam Centre #ShareAScamStory #ScamsWeek24

It’s Scams Awareness Week, and this year’s theme is ‘Share a story, stop a scam.’ Optus is doing more than ever before to stop scams and arm our customers with the tools to stay safe. Since its inception, Optus Call Stop has saved Australians from losing up to $250 million, and nearly 90,000 Optus customers have reported a suspicious message through the Optus ScamWise feature in My Optus app. But scammers are only getting craftier. Check out these helpful tips from Optus’ Chair of Cyber Security and Data Science at UniSA Dr Mamello Thinyane on how to stay safe. #ScamsWeek24 #ShareAScamStory