Australia Post announces hiring blitz amidst current parcel surge

AUSTRALIA Post has not seen parcel volumes this large since Christmas last year and will introduce new measures to try to combat the current surge that all stores across the country are now facing.

Australia Post has announced it will conduct a hiring blitz to keep deliveries moving and ramp up weekend deliveries to try to remedy the huge amount of parcels running through its locations.

North Geelong Australia Post licensee Melba Waugh says it consistently feels like the Christmas period at her establishment, which is actually the opposite to what her team thought would happen prior to COVID-19’s arrival in Australia.

“It now actually feels busier than what we get over Christmas,” Ms Waugh said.

“When the pandemic first hit, we thought we were going to lose revenue.

“We were scared and we thought it was going to be quiet. I even told my son I was going to stay home and he was going to look after the Post Office.

“But since the start of the pandemic began it has become busier and busier and busier.”

Ms Waugh said her mail room was always full of parcels and that the volumes had completely caught her and her team off guard.

Statistically, last year’s peak season saw a large surge in parcel deliveries in the Greater Geelong region.

Between October to December in 2020, Australia Post had large parcel volumes up 35 per cent in Torquay, 32 per cent across the Bellarine, and 26 per cent across the City of Geelong and suburbs compared to the previous year.

Australia Post expects this year’s peak delivery season is expected to see even further growth, while parcel volumes have remained high throughout 2021 due to lockdowns and the online shopping boom.

“Our posties and drivers have been out there since March last year often delivering on most days like it’s Christmas, and we know that Australians are relying on us more than ever and will continue to in the coming months, which is why we’re putting some key measures in place to be ready for our biggest Christmas ever,” said executive general manager of Australia Post Nicole Sheffield.

“We’ll be hiring more than 4,000 new team members across the country, helping process at our sorting facilities, helping customers online and on the phone, and out delivering for Australians.”

The total number of parcels delivered during last month alone was 79,163 in Ocean Grove/Bellarine, 38,568 in Torquay and 251,617 in the City of Greater Geelong and surrounding suburbs.

During December 2020 more than 21 million customers were also served at Australia Post’s more than 4000 Post Offices, including regional and remote locations.

Australia Post will be hiring all over the country including in many regional areas.

Recruiting for new roles will begin very soon and Australia Post is encouraging people to check online at auspost.com.au/jobs.