Veolia ANZ recognised for supporting employee community volunteering

Veolia Australia and New Zealand is proud to have recently received the ADF Cadet Staff Employer Recognition Award for 2025. This was received to recognise the support we offer for employees who volunteer their time for the Army Cadets. 

One such employee is Dale Manley, National Contract Manager in Veolia ANZ’s Defence Service Delivery team, who has been actively involved in youth development through the Australian Army Cadets for nearly 3 decades.

Dale’s contribution was also formally acknowledged through a letter personally signed by Major General Douglas Laidlaw AM CSC — a rare level of recognition within the program. In addition, Major General Laidlaw personally thanked Veolia ANZ’s Chief Executive Officer for enabling and supporting employees to continue their volunteer commitments alongside their professional roles.

The Australian Army Cadets is a national youth development program that partners with the Australian Army to support young people aged 13–18. The program focuses on building leadership, teamwork, resilience and confidence through practical activities such as fieldcraft, first aid, navigation, STEM and ceremonial duties, all delivered in a safe, inclusive environment.

Dale shared his commitment to Cadets during his recruitment into Veolia ANZ and has continued this community involvement with the support of his leaders and colleagues. His unit has also been recognised at a community level, including being named Wodonga Community Organisation of the Year in 2022 and receiving multiple regional award nominations between 2023 and 2025.

“This program gives Cadets life skills including leadership, initiative, problem-solving, communication, teamwork and self-esteem,” Dale said. “Veolia has allowed me to continue this community support for nearly 10 years.”
 

Veolia ANZ views this recognition as an example of social performance in action — supporting employees to contribute positively to their communities while delivering strong operational and customer outcomes. This approach aligns with Veolia’s purpose of ecological transformation and its broader commitment to creating environmental, social and economic value through its GreenUp strategy.

By enabling employee volunteering, Veolia ANZ reinforces its belief that strong organisations and strong communities go hand in hand.