Leaving a positive legacy at Westfield Warringah Mall
COMMUNITY
Westfield Warringah Mall’s work placement program and the team’s collaboration with the community around the design of important sections of the centre have built enduring community trust and positive sentiment.
In 2016 Westfield Warringah Mall piloted a work placement program for three local HSC students enrolled in business, retail and construction courses. The students spent time observing different roles and activities across the business, as well as undertaking some small tasks.
“They took time out of their busy schedules to teach me about what their jobs involve.”
– Business Services student at The Forest High School.
Following the program’s success, Westfield Warringah Mall was invited to support a professional development day for 40 local construction teachers, providing them with valuable information on current construction trends and best practice.
This is just one of many programs and initiatives that Westfield Warringah Mall implemented as part of its Community Engagement Strategy. The team was committed to form positive and enduring relationships with the community by providing transparent and timely information and inviting community and business leaders to engage and collaborate.
Through focus groups, surveys and one-on-one meetings, the team consulted with community members and groups on the design of some of the centre’s new facilities and services. Their feedback was heard and considered, resulting in design changes that better addressed the community’s needs.
The students gained hands-on experience at Westfield Warringah Mall's construction site.
“The two supervisors told me everything I needed to do to become a tradie, and even where to start.”
– Construction student at Marist College North Shore.
One example is the redesign of the Parents’ Room to improve accessibility. The team changed its Parents with Prams parking layout to improve pedestrian entry into the centre. They worked with the community to create a bespoke playground that provides greater sensory experiences for kids. With the redevelopment complete, the Westfield Warringah Mall team continues to engage and consult with these key community members and is always looking for opportunities to establish new relationships.
An iconic artwork, valued by the community, is the 27-year-old Dolphin Fountain. During the centre’s redevelopment, a strong relationship was established with the original artist to ensure the fountain was well cared for and restored appropriately during the redevelopment and maintained in the future. The artist was flown to Westfield Warringah Mall on a number of occasions throughout the project to provide advice, and was the guest of honour at a special event to relaunch the fountain.
