Antonija inspired to help teammates stay safe

After three years working as a Project Administrator at Winslow’s Geelong Region office, Antonija Balta was approached with the opportunity to move into career in the safety field.

Antonija said Systems Auditor James Kitchen approached her with the opportunity to join the HSE team and assisted with the transition into the HSE Co-ordinator role last December.

Asked why she took on the new role, Antonija said “because I care about our teams – both site and office”.

“I want to make sure everyone gets home safe,” she said.

“This role has also given me the ability to develop my skills and increase my knowledge within the safety environment.”

Antonija said adjusting to the new role has been easier than she thought.

“Like any new role there’s a lot to learn – and I’m still learning – but knowing the field team from my time working in the office has made the transition easy,” she said.

“My experience to date has been very positive and, while it has had some challenges, there is nothing that cannot be solved with the right team behind me.

“I have great mentors in James (Kitchen) and (HSE Manager) Simon Minos.”

Antonija said anyone wanting to move into a new career within Winslow should “just go for it”.

“The best thing you can do is learn a new skill and gain more knowledge to further develop yourself,” she said.

“If you want to take on a HSE role, be prepared. It is hands-on, not just paperwork.

“You’ll need to be able to communicate to all types of crowds, be confident when speaking, stay consistent with safety expectations and, most importantly, learn how to apply safety in a practical way that actually works on site and meets all compliance requirements.