By Olivia Condous
Star Weekly took part in an exclusive tour of the new Amazon Australia fulfillment centre in Melton this week.
The facility officially opened in August 2021, but were not able to permit visitors until recently due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The centre is 37 thousand square metres, equivalent to double the size of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and employs between 250 to 300 people.
The warehouse has the capacity to store about 2 million items and processes 6 million items over one year, with high-tech machinery making the fastest delivery times just three hours.
The new Melton centre is one of two in Melbourne, open seven days a week and is adorned with a huge ‘#WEST IS BEST’ sign in the entrance area.
Amazon Ravenhall fulfilment centre site lead Anna Reid is a resident of the western suburbs and said she was excited to be able to work close to home in a role that would help create more jobs in the area.
The centre offers training programs for employees in externally recognised courses to help them build on their skills.
“A big part of what we’re focussed on is bringing people in from the local community if they haven’t had warehouse experience,” Ms Reid said.
While advanced technology is integral to Amazon operations, Ms Reid said the employees were still vital.
“The technology makes it fast but the people make sure it’s done right and check the quality,” she said.
In addition to providing more jobs for local residents, the centre also has a focus on using their resources for community outreach.
One of the community programs is Camp Amazon, which provides 100 students from New South Wales and Victoria the opportunity to participate in a two year program to develop their science, technology, engineering and math skills through after school or school holiday workshops.
The Melton centre also recently sent 3000 toiletry packs to flood affected communities to help with disaster relief.
Amazon Australia workplace communications manager Jessica Makin said the company always tried hard to be a part of the communities in any place that they operate.
“It’s also the community in which our employees live and work and we want to make sure that they feel supported in that way,” she said.
Amazon Ravenhall employee Danielle Winterburne said the job provided stability, after she lost her previous work during the pandemic, and had since moved to the western suburbs to be closer to the site.
“It’s been fantastic, what I love about this job is that you’re not a number, you’re a human being,” Ms Winterburne said.
“It’s just exceeded all the expectations that I have, I love it.”
Take a look at the picture gallery above to get an inside look of the Amazon Ravenhall fulfilment centre.
