News

Darryn McRae has had some serious challenges this year, not least of which was finding the best Japanese food in his new hometown, Canberra.“We landed on Lazy Su in Braddon,” he says.“Best tuna tartare I’ve ever tasted.”The Zango CEO describes 2021 as “transformative” for the 22-month-old property platform, with the team behind Zango having to adapt its entire work approach and be prepared to update the platform within a moment’s notice to meet the challenges of Lockdown 2.0 in the ACT region.“For the industry overarching it’s been a pretty demanding year,” Darryn says.“But more than ever we’ve understood we’re all in it together.“I’m incredibly proud of my team, but I’m also impressed by the way agencies in Canberra adapted their sales and marketing processes almost every day to suit what was going on in the world.”<img alt="DMC_Article_Inserts2.png" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/DMC_Article_Inserts2.width-800.png" width="800">A record number of those agencies are now listing their properties on Zango. The platform was home to thousands of sales and rental listings in 2021, with average time on market sitting at just 27 days.Kambah was the most sought after suburb in 2021, with Braddon and Kaleen a close second and third.“Canberrans know that Zango is a must-visit, more modern and truly local way to search for property,” Darryn says.“There’s been huge interest from agents in the ACT region as well this year - they’ve seen the effectiveness of the platform in Canberra and know they get great value from being on Zango.“We’re fielding more and more interest from agencies outside of Canberra, including on the south coast, in the Snowy Mountains and in the Southern Highlands.”<img alt="DMC_Article_Inserts3.png" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/DMC_Article_Inserts3.width-800.png" width="800">Zango’s partnerships with Hands Across Canberra, Strathnairn Charity House, the Canberra Raiders and the Canberra Brave were also gems in the crown of 2021, according to Darryn. Community is a big part of the Zango ethos he said, and work to support all four organisations will extend into next year and beyond. The inaugural Zango Futsal Cup was a great success and could turn into an annual event.<img alt="DMC_Article_Inserts.png" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/DMC_Article_Inserts.width-800.png" width="800">From where Darryn sits, 2022 is going to be a huge year.“Definitely one of the highlights of 2021 was Zango’s performance in October and November,” he says.“We had a record number of listings in October and a record number of people visiting our website - then we beat both of those numbers in November,” Darryn says.“Our mobile app was recently upgraded with new features that offer personalisation on listings and searches. The benefit to users is they’re getting more relevant information, faster.“The past year’s been challenging but so rewarding. We’re on a good foundation to kick off 2022 with a bang.”

‘Challenging but so rewarding’: Zango CEO Darryn McRae looks back on 2021

Recent events have certainly shown the importance of caring for each other as a community.There are many positive stories of how neighbours and even competing businesses are working together to help those who are more at risk, having to quarantine, or struggling to make ends meet during COVID.This hasn’t escaped our attention at Zango – as a locally owned business, doing right by our community is a value that’s near to our hearts. Many of the agents in the Zango network also feel the same; regularly swapping their logos to unite for fundraising efforts and to raise awareness for important local initiatives.Another way we do this is via our community partnership with <a href="https://handsacrosscanberra.org.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hands Across Canberra</a>.Hands Across Canberra is an independent community foundation which supports over 300 local not-for-profits such as Marymead, ACT Down Syndrome Association, ACT Pet Crisis Support, Doris Women’s Refuge, and Karinya House (to name a few).<img alt="Peter_Gordon_CEO.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="450" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Peter_Gordon_CEO.width-800.jpg" width="800">Peter Gordon, CEO of Hands Across Canberra, urges everyone to spare a thought for those who are less privileged within our own community.“We’re grateful that Zango’s agents are helping to broadcast our message which is to give where you live. Many people think everyone in Canberra is fine, and it’s simply not the case. For example, the fastest growing area of homelessness in the ACT is mature women experiencing family break up or domestic violence. The organisations we support provide emergency accommodation to ensure they don’t end up on the streets.<img alt="HAC_Region_Insert.png" class="richtext-image full-width" height="530" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/HAC_Region_Insert.width-800.png" width="800">“Canberrans give an average $400 a year to charity. This is very generous, but almost all of it leaves Canberra. If everyone allocated just $10 to local causes then almost $4 million would be available to support homelessness, domestic violence, youth, and other vital local services. It takes a collective effort, but I believe we can achieve it.”Last year Zango helped Hands Across Canberra <a href="https://zango.com.au/news/world-homelessness-day-sees-zango-agents-turn-purple-for-a-good-cause/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">raise more than $10,000</a> to support World Homelessness Day which is approaching again next month.Peter hopes to surpass this amount during this year’s Hands Across Canberra fundraising efforts, which have already begun. Raising money ahead of time ensures we can allocate much-needed grants in October to local services offering crisis support.“In the past 18 months we’ve seen a huge increase in the need for emergency relief and mental health services. During any crisis, it’s the people who are already vulnerable who get hit the hardest.“Where able, I urge people to consider those who are less fortunate by giving back – even if it’s just $10. Our goal is to make it very easy to donate any amount and know that the money will stay right here in Canberra; helping your friends and neighbours get through tough times.”When you donate to Hands Across Canberra, you can select a one-off or recurring donation. You can also choose the charity you wish to give to, or donate to Hands Across Canberra which will allocate it where it’s currently needed most.To donate, please visit <a href="https://handsacrosscanberra.org.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hands Across Canberra</a>.

Stronger together: why we must support our friends and neighbours

A recent push from <a href="https://ginninderry.com/environment-and-people/training-employment/view-programs/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ginninderry’s SPARK Training and Employment Program</a> has seen 10 women complete a 10-week course designed to give them exposure to working in the trades or construction sector.Ginninderry’s head of community, training and employment, Emma Sckrabei, says the program is designed to introduce women to an industry in which they are currently nationally underrepresented.“In 2006, women occupied 17 per cent of the entire construction workforce, dropping to 12 per cent in 2016 and decreasing further to 11 per cent in 2020,” she explains.“While this figure is low, the proportion of women employed in the trades is even lower. In 2020, only one per cent of the trades and technician positions in the construction industry were filled by women.”Emma says the stigma surrounding entering the construction industry could begin at school where girls might be less likely to take classes such as metalwork or woodwork, while later on the physicality of the job and the early hours while raising a family might seem less than ideal.“We are big believers in ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’ and so if women are looking at job sites and seeing them populated only by men, they are less likely to have a go,” says Emma.<img alt="Zango Website_News Articles_Hero &amp; Sub Image_Strathnairn2.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="530" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Zango_Website_News_Articles_Hero__Sub_Image_St.width-800.jpg" width="800">One participant, Siobhan Nelson, says she never saw herself or her female friends pursuing a career in the trades upon leaving school.“Even though I love using my hands and doing maths, I just assumed it was more of a blokes’ industry,” she says.But after working various casual jobs in administration, finance, lifeguarding, sports instruction and in the hospitality industry, Siobhan found herself struggling to find a career that would offer her some stability.“All of these were casual roles that didn’t offer any career progression,” she says. “I was looking for a job I could really seek my teeth into and happened to be in the right place at the right time.”The right place was the Canberra Jobs Fair, where Siobhan happened upon the team from Ginninderry’s SPARK Training and Employment Program, who told her about the program.“What interested me the most about this program was that I could pretty much ‘try before you buy’,” she says. “You can experience different trades, ask questions and see if a trade is the right [one for you].”Now in week nine of the 10-week program, Siobhan has found the entire experience to be positive. Now she’s highly motivated to find an electrical apprenticeship to continue on her path.<img alt="Zango Website_News Articles_Hero &amp; Sub Image_Strathnairn3.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="530" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Zango_Website_News_Articles_Hero__Sub_Image_St.width-800_Xz5WuYO.jpg" width="800">The program is a mixture of work placement with different employers and learning in a classroom setting.In Siobhan’s case, she worked with both refrigeration and electrical employers, which were chosen for her individually because she had expressed a desire to use maths and to work with her hands.“I was able to experience all of the different aspects of being involved with each trade, including the physical and mental requirements of the job while I was onsite,” she explains.In terms of support from her employers, Siobhan says it has been a positive experience.“Both of my employers explained that women are often quite meticulous with their calculations and are very valuable to the industry,” she says.In the classroom, participants are taught how to read and understand plans, occupational health and safety requirements, and the logistics behind how a house is put together.“Most of us hadn’t previously been in the trade industry so it was a very supportive environment and we were all learning at the same pace,” says Siobhan.She adds all of the women participating are a variety of ages, and the program isn’t just geared towards school leavers.Participants are also equipped with skills such as expectations regarding bullying and harassment in the workplace, and connected with resources to help such as an employee assistant program (EAP) should the need arise.Before commencing, there was a functionality test which included physical tests as well as a drug and alcohol testing.The <a href="https://ginninderry.com/environment-and-people/training-employment/view-programs/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SPARK JobTrainer Women in Trades program</a> is delivered in conjunction with the Ginninderry Charity Auction House project and <a href="https://handsacrosscanberra.org.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hands Across Canberra</a>, with support from the Federal Government, ACT Government, Master Builders Association of the ACT, Build Like a Girl and Healthy Tradie Project.Article was originally written and published by <a href="https://the-riotact.com/a-10-week-program-designed-to-spark-womens-interest-in-the-trades/470888" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The RiotAct.</a>

A 10-week program designed to SPARK women’s interest in the trades

Homeownership is the great Australian dream. It also conveys a sense of safety and belonging. Walking into your home for the first time is a life-changing moment.But for some Canberrans, even a roof over their heads is a distant dream.On <a href="http://www.worldhomelessday.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">World Homelessness Day</a>, 10 October 2020, Zango, in partnership with local real estate agents, will donate $10 for every open home or rental inspection held to support the local Canberra homeless community through local non-profit <a href="https://www.handsacrosscanberra.org.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hands Across Canberra</a>.“We all know that Canberra is a great place to live and work, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t people who are doing it tough,” said Zango Managing Director Ben Faulks.“Supporting homelessness is the natural place for Zango to focus our efforts on making an impact in the Canberra community,” he said.“And as a locally owned and operated business, we are looking forward to expanding our partnership with Hands Across Canberra to improve the lives of more Canberrans.”<img alt="HAC_Homelessness-1.png" class="richtext-image full-width" height="322" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/HAC_Homelessness-1.width-800.png" width="800"><a href="https://www.handsacrosscanberra.org.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hands Across Canberra</a> is a local charity, formed in 2010 by a group of local Canberra leaders who wanted to create a foundation to help fellow Canberrans. All donations are given to local charities, and make a bigger impact in the Canberra community.“It might surprise Canberrans that many people don’t actually have a place to live. There will be 2,000 people homeless in Canberra tonight,” said Hands Across Canberra CEO Peter Gordon.“Hands Across Canberra is delighted to be partnering with Zango to promote the cause and to encourage people to be generous locally,” he said.<img alt="200807_-_Zango_Web_News_Article_Image_960px_x_640px.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/200807_-_Zango_Web_News_Article_Image_960px_x_.width-800.jpg" width="800">Participating agents and agencies will be wearing purple on Saturday, 10 October, to raise awareness of the issue in Canberra.Sandy Morris from One Agency said her agency has chosen to support the initiative and will be wearing purple on 10 October to mark World Homelessness Day.“I think it’s an amazing charity to support, given the fact that day in day out, our industry sells homes,” said Ms Morris.“If a business is going to help a charity, Hands Across Canberra is a wonderful one, and you couldn’t get a more fitting cause. It’s time to reflect on the fact that there are homeless people, and we’ll do anything we can do to help, all of our staff will be in purple, and we’ll match dollar for dollar what Zango is doing.“Every dollar that Zango contributes will help, and we’re proud to be wearing purple on Saturday,” said Zango Managing Director Ben Faulks.<a href="http://www.worldhomelessday.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">World Homeless Day</a> is on 10 October. To make a real difference to the lives of homeless people in the ACT, get involved with Hands Across Canberra’s Youth Homelessness Pathways Challenges. Visit <a href="https://www.handsacrosscanberra.org.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hands Across Canberra</a>.To find an open house on 10 October, visit <a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zango</a>.

4 news articles with tag hands-across-canberra

‘Challenging but so rewarding’: Zango CEO Darryn McRae looks back on 2021

Stronger together: why we must support our friends and neighbours

A 10-week program designed to SPARK women’s interest in the trades

Zango is going purple for "A Good Cause."