Tomas Johnsson, CEO
Looking back at this photo from my younger years growing up in Sweden, one obvious piece of advice is not to worry about bad haircuts, as it is not going to be a problem in the future!
More broadly, I would most likely give myself the same advice that my kids now roll their eyes over whenever I repeat it; “Whether you believe that you can, or believe that you can’t - you are probably right”
A MESSAGE FROM TOMAS
JOHNSSON, CEO
We’re one month into a brand new financial year, and I want to thank everyone for your hard work & dedication during what has been a very busy period.
I’m also proud to share that our 2025 Employee Engagement Survey results are in and we achieved an impressive score of 81, a 4% increase from last year, and a result aligned with industry best practice.
This is a powerful reflection of the culture we’re building together and the pride we bring to our roles.
Have you seen the new careers spotlight videos?
This is a natural time to pause, revisit our goals, and take a fresh look at our strategies It’s also a great opportunity to consider how we can continue to innovate and improve.
Staying ahead means not becoming complacent, it means challenging ourselves to think differently, seek new ideas, and strive for better ways of working This mindset is what sets us apart and guides our direction.
Let’s keep this momentum going and make this a year of continued improvement, innovation, & shared success
Chief Executive Officer Tomas Johnsson
A MESSAGE FROM VICKI NAGLE, CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER
For a limited time, we have increased our employee referral reward to $5,000* for eligible roles. If someone in your network is hired into one of these roles, and they list you as the referrer in their application, you could receive $5k
For more information, including FAQs, and links to our Employee Referral Policy and Statement, plus the list of eligible roles. Click here to view the post on Viva Engage
A MESSAGE FROM VICKI NAGLE, CPO
We’re excited to announce that from 1 January 2026, our new Employee Assistance Program (EAP) will be delivered through Sonder, a holistic wellbeing, safety and employee assurance program platform accessible through an easy-to use app
Our current provider, Assure Programs, will remain in place until the end of the year More details on the launch and how to access Sonder will be shared soon. This is a meaningful step forward to ensure our people and their immediate families feel safe, supported, and well
“I’ve come to realise that being different is more than ok - it’s something to embrace” Read the latest Leader Spotlight to find out who is in this photo, fun and quirky facts, future goals and her favourite book
Read more on Viva Engage
The Executive Team and I are very pleased of our results of a 81% score, which show we have a highly engaged team!
Globally, teams that have a score of 80% and over are experiencing best practice results, meaning they enjoy the culture of the company.
It was especially encouraging to see our strongest results in areas that reflect our culture and purpose with team members telling us they understand how their work contributes to the success of the business, feel committed to helping the organisation achieve its vision, and enjoy working with their team We also saw high scores in creating positive community environments and staying focused on the needs of our residents and guests.
We’ve identified the top 5 strengths and focus areas across the business, which will shape our key priorities moving forward.
Results have been shared with leaders to cascade to their teams, and the next step is working together to develop 12month action plans at a local level
So please get involved and help shape these plans with your leaders.
Over the past financial year, 8 of our QLD properties have collectively diverted 46,362 containers from landfill through the Containers for Change Program, recycling an impressive 32 tonnes of material - a small step with big impact, contributing to a cleaner environment & supporting social enterprise.
This program returned close to $5K in change, which has been either reinvested in our Residential Life Programs or donated to charity Speak to Matt Hogan for more information about getting involved in this program.
The 14 properties with current accreditation include Lincoln House, Twin Dolphin Hall, Burralga Yumba, Ultimo, Southbank, Melbourne City, John Grey Hall, Toowong, Darwin, Royal Melbourne, George Roberts Hall, Rotary House, Melbourne CBD, and Melbourne Central
Our hardworking Marketing Team have recently launched the new “Marketing Asset Library” (MAL), packed with over 17,000 assets incl videos, graphics, images, headshots, all available in one place If you don’t have access or want to learn more, reach out to your Marketing Manager.
6,753 74%
Responses
This year we introduced a new Resident Survey platform and I want to thank everyone for your patience and support during what we know has been a busy period
Thanks to Sam Griffiths for sharing about his experience attending this event with partner CDL Australia.
e received 6,753 responses, and each operty now has their results to help form business plans and future goals ur overall satisfaction score was 4%, with most loved features including ice and location, and training in spectful behaviour, including consent nd anti-bullying. Across the board the p 3 priorities identified by residents ere internet access, inductions, and repair timelines
Thanks again to all teams for your ongoing efforts to deliver a positive resident experience and for using this feedback to keep improving. We are now working with Essence Communities for tailored surveys
One of the things that makes UniLodge Living Group special is the diversity of our people and the incredible work happening across Australia and New Zealand, often behind the scenes
Viva Engage helps bring those stories to light It’s a space where we can stay connected, learn from one another, and celebrate what makes our culture strong No matter where you are based or your role, I encourage you to take a look, join the conversation, and be part of the energy that’s shaping our future together
Everyone across UniLodge Living Group, whether you're at head office, managing a property, or on the road between sites It’s for anyone who wants to stay connected, learn from others, and be part of the bigger picture
It’s our internal communication and connection platform. A space to share stories, celebrate wins, post updates, and spark ideas across teams and properties. It was previously called Yammer Think of it as our digital noticeboard, shout-out wall, and community hub all in one!
Viva Engage now lives inside Microsoft Teams You can add it to the left-hand menu or just search “Viva Engage” if you don’t see it straight away It’s accessible from your desktop or the Teams mobile app, so you can view on the go You can also access it by typing Viva Engage into your Edge browser and bookmark it for easy access in future
Viva Engage is a great way to:
Stay in the loop with what’s happening across the business
Learn from others and pick up new ideas
Celebrate success and give shoutouts
Hear directly from leadership
Feel more connected to people across regions and roles
And yes, have a little fun too
challenge our thinking, and strengthen the connection across our network
This quarter, we focused on leasing performance and what it will take to drive the business forward
We unpacked key projects and the evolution of our tech stack, and shared updates from across our many working groups and initiatives. Most importantly, we made space to explore how we apply both operational and strategic thinking to everything we do
With such diversity in our assets, employees, and lived experiences, it's the collective insight and collaboration that continues to push us ahead, and I thank all of our teams for their insights and hard work to date.
Melissa Tracey has taken on an expanded role as Regional GM for both Brisbane & SA after Arin Seals departure. Claire Liao has been promoted to GM Portfolio, SA to support Melissa & oversee day-to-day operations in Adelaide
Adele Prudames has stepped into a new role, Area GM, VIC Residential, to oversee BTR and strata properties in Melbourne.
Adam Deverson has transitioned from Essence Communities into a new role in Melbourne, Area GM, Melbourne PBSA.
Keep an eye out for the weekly “Slide of UniLodge” question series put on by our Mental Health and Wellbeing Champions to see more fun photos and advice others would have given to your younger selves!
Each week there is a new question that challenges you to think deep and share meaningfully.
Read more on Viva Engage
Kesha Surti, People Manager, joined People Leaders in Ōtautahi Christchurch for refresher training ahead of their annual team pot luck lunch
