Diversity in leadership
We set a goal in 2020 to achieve more gender & cultural diversity in our leadership team.
Our progress
(as of Dec 2024)
40 per cent of our senior staff team are females.
Working at Essence
We thrive on challenges, operate on trust, and leverage the diverse perspectives of people on our team in everything we do.
A career at Essence means you’ll have the opportunity to develop and utilise new skills and do challenging work that will impact the lives of people and communities and drive change through sustainable practices and a responsible supply chain.
You’ll be encouraged to examine problems from every angle, challenge the status quo, and come up with new and innovative ways of progressing projects.
No matter your background, we’re united by our focus on excellence and innovation.
Our values are a huge part of our culture
A culture that’s growing to support our business strategy, our people, our clients, and community expectations of us.
Honesty
We act with integrity in all interactions. We stand by our values no matter what challenges are encountered.
Excellence
We strive for continuous improvement and demand high standards from ourselves and those we work with.
ACCOUNTABILITY
We take individual & collective responsibility for the outcomes & experiences we deliver.
RESPECT
We value & seek different contributions from all our team members & industry colleagues.
TRUST
We build strong relationships with our people, clients, and partners to foster collaboration and partnerships.
Our Culture
A supportive, high-performing environment driven by shared values.
Our culture at Essence is shaped by our people—how we work together, solve challenges, and support one another. We believe that a strong culture isn’t just about words; it’s about action. That’s why we embed our values into everything we do, from project delivery to leadership and career development.
We encourage open communication, curiosity, and a mindset of continuous improvement. Our leaders are approachable, our teams are collaborative, and our people have the freedom to take ownership of their work while knowing they are supported.
At Essence, culture isn’t an initiative—it’s how we operate every day.
Rewards & benefits
Renumeration & reward
Parental Leave
Eligible primary carer employees receive 12 weeks paid leave + 6 months superannuation. Non-primary carers receive 4 weeks paid leave.
Annual Leave
We offer 23 days of annual leave, (20 standard days, plus three “wellness leave” days).
Loyalty Leave
After three years of completed service, employees are entitled to an additional five days of loyalty leave annually.*
Salary Packaging
Available for education, additional super, novated car leases & running costs.
Share Ownership
Eligible employees can at certain times be provided the opportunity to buy shares and become an owner of the business, benefiting from company returns.
Bonuses
Our financial recognition program rewards individual performances of employees who have contributed to company goals or exceeded performance objectives. Discretionary bonuses are paid bi- annually.
Loyalty Bonuses
We celebrate employee loyalty with a $1500 gift card on their five-year anniversary, and a $4000 gift card on their ten-year anniversary.
Study Leave
Eligible employees undertaking approved study are entitled to five paid study days annually.*
Purchase Leave
Eligible employees can purchase up to four weeks additional leave annually.
Phone Allowance
Employees receive a generous monthly phone allowance, also eligible whilst on parental leave.
* or part-time equivalent.
Your wellbeing
Employee Assistance Program
To support our employees and families during times of need, we offer a complimentary employee assistance program for confidential counselling support & advice. The EAP also offers networking opportunities, training & well-being initiatives.
Flu Shots & Skin Checks
We provide the option for all employees to receive a free flu- shot annually and skin checks every 2 years.
Financial Well-being
We work with external partners to provide topical financial sessions throughout the calendar year.
Sabbaticals
After 12 months of employment, employees are eligible to apply for a sabbatical of up to one year, subject to management approval.
Fruit & Wellness Classes
We provide fruit and snacks at work. Free wellness classes are available at some office locations.
Wellness Leave
We encourage employees to take regular breaks of meaningful rest and provide staff with 3 days “wellness leave” to be used within a 12 month period.
Sports Activities
We are committed to promoting an active and healthy lifestyle, offering team sporting activities periodically to stay fit and active alongside your team mates.
Dog Days
Once a month, we welcome a team member’s dog into the office, bringing energy and a bit of fun to the workday. It’s a chance to take a break, enjoy some puppy time, and boost team morale.
Your experience
Culture
Our leaders cultivate an inclusive, friendly and supportive culture that enables all employees to reach their full potential, and enjoy their work.
HEART Program
Our annual employee recognition program formally recognises employees who have performed beyond expectations and positively lived the company values.
Support & Relationships
Team members have regular access to their line manager to provide open communication and constructive feedback.
Diversity & Inclusion
We proudly maintain a company Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy, to encourage awareness and understanding. We recognise and celebrate diversity days.
Fire Warden & First Aid Officer
Wardens and First Aid Officers receive an annual allowance of $200, paid bi-annually, in their capacity as a Warden or a First Aid Officer.
Non-Executive Board
We have an experienced and committed group of Non- Executive Directors on our Board who underpin the strength of our business-wide governance practices and support effective strategic leadership of our business.
Social Responsibility
Essence has a Giving Back Strategy to provide funds and time to community and charitable initiatives that are meaningful for our business. In addition, we are a certified Climate Active carbon neutral organisation and encourage employee involvement in sustainability initiatives.
Networking
We hold regular company events such as team lunches and celebrations. We proudly partner nationally with PIF, along with PCA, UDIA, NAWIC and other professional bodies.
RAP
Essence has received endorsement from Reconciliation Australia for our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan, and are now proudly delivering
our commitments, warmly encouraging our people to be actively engaged and involved.Ways of working
Flexibility
We are committed to supporting employees with a work/life balance through flexible working arrangements.
Travel
From time to time, there may be opportunities to travel for project or other business-related work as part of the Essence team.
Work From Another State
Team members can work from any of our offices when visiting another state, providing flexibility while staying connected. This is a self-funded opportunity.
Autonomy
We encourage a culture of autonomy where managers trust their teams to do their best and are supportive of a growth mindset, with tools, training and support they need.
Collaboration
We encourage collaboration between team members and teams through appropriate technology and aligned goals.
Conferences
Company conferences are held from time to time to drive engagement and collaboration.
Relocation/Career Growth
Promotional opportunities are reviewed annually, with the potential for financial relocation support where positions become available.
Volunteering
We support employees volunteering as part of their annual leave entitlement, independently or with our charity partners.
Office Locations
Our offices are centrally located with end-of-trip facilities.
Learning & development
Learning & Upskilling
We support our employees at every level to continually learn and upskill by providing regular performance enhancement opportunities.
Personal Development
Employee performance is reviewed regularly to keep employees on track with their career development.
Lunch & Learns
We provide structured training sessions and B2B’s with
various industry contacts for development and networking.Artificial Intelligence
Essence is committed to exploring the impact of emerging technology on our industry and workforce, with a team actively exploring how we can utilise AI solutions to add value to our work processes.
Mentoring
We support mentoring of our people through programs provided by recognised industry bodies. Essence will reimburse two employees annually
to participate in successful applications to these programs.Leadership Development
Managers are given opportunities to further develop their leadership skills through leadership training programs.
In-house Training
We ensure new starters get off on the right foot by providing a formal induction program to get our new starters comfortable with our systems and processes. Continuous training is offered to all staff throughout employment.
Industry Involvement
We support and encourage our team to be representatives of registered bodies such as PCA, NAWIC, and UDIA, promoting professional growth and industry engagement.
Graduate Program
We run an annual Graduate Program, giving graduates hands- on experience across diverse sectors while working alongside industry experts. The program includes structured training, mentorship, and development check-ins to support career growth.
Operational Involvement
Receive the opportunity to learn across different areas of the business by becoming involved in functional initiatives like social team, WHS or training initiatives
How we’re tracking
LOCATION
We have offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
EMPLOYEES
We have more than 60 team members employed nationally.
PROJECTS
We have worked on more than 180 projects.
Our Workplace Goals
Our Workplace Goals
Indigenous Reconciliation
We set a goal in 2020 to commence a reconciliation plan.
Our progress
(as of Dec 2024)
We have received endorsement from Reconciliation Australia for our Reflect Reconciliation Plan. We are committed to delivering this plan to support us in developing reconciliation pathways for our First Nations people.
Our Workplace Goals
A more inclusive environment
We set a goal in 2020 to achieve more gender and cultural diversity across our team.
Our progress
(as of Dec 2024)
We delivered a Gender, Diversity & Inclusion Policy to formalise the commitment Essence has to unified equality.
Good Business Practices
Doing business responsibly & sustainably.
Sustainability in the office
Every Essence office manages its business with consideration of reducing environmental impact and when selecting offices, we ensure the building owners align with our environmental goals. We encourage employees to use reusable containers and have a robust recycling program.
Responsible supply chain
We practise responsible supply chain management. That means when selecting suppliers & consultants, we ensure they uphold environmental & societal values that address global issues such as climate change, water security, deforestation, human rights, fair labour practices & corruption.
Workplace giving
We have donated more than $130,000 of revenue to charities such as the Property Industry Foundation, Housing All Australians, and Vinnies since the inception of Essence in 2016. We support team or individual efforts to raise money for charities by backing donations of our staff.
Diversity & inclusion
We’re committed to creating a respectful, fair, and inclusive work environment. We believe understanding and responding to the needs of our clients is best accomplished when our people and leaders reflect the diversity of the communities we deliver.
Fair recruitment practices
We are committed to treating all employees fairly, ensuring that they are recruited, trained and promoted solely on their abilities. We strive to hire, retain and promote employees with diverse attributes, backgrounds, experiences & skills who think differently, have varying perspectives and bring unique ideas & points of view.
Gender equality
We annually celebrate the achievement of women and raise awareness of gender bias by celebrating International Women’s Day through events and thought-leadership initiatives. We are a proud supporter of the Property Council of Australia’s (PCA) 500 Women in Property program and encourage our female employees to apply for the program.
Career Opportunities
Interested in a career at Essence? Click on the link relevant to you and send us an expression of interest. All submissions are kept confidential.
