February 08, 2007 // Franchising.com // At a time when the Australian Census of Women in Leadership reports that Australia's top 200 companies have made little progress in increasing the numbers of women in their boardrooms one Australian company is still going strong after 40 years with females at the helm.
Founded in March 1967 by Dena Blackman, DIAL-AN-ANGEL grew quickly from a one person, one-telephone office to 12 offices nationwide, four of which are franchises. The Company now employs 50 full-time staff with over 10,000 registered Angels providing quality home and family care to tens of thousands of satisfied clients.
Dena commenced the business on a $200 bank loan whilst caring for her three young children. To put Dena's achievement into perspective it was only one year after the removal of the marriage bar in the Commonwealth Public Service that required all women once they were married to retire from the workforce! Moreover, it took until 1971 for the first bank to provide a loan to women without a male guarantor.
DIAL-AN-ANGEL has always been "a family affair". Three generations of Dena's family have been involved in the business over more than three decades, including Dena's mother and three daughters. A vital ingredient in the success of the business is Dena's belief that a family business is the crossroad of two amazing and unparalleled experiences. One experience is the raising and nurturing of a family -- spouse, children, grandchildren and others -– through a lifetime of ups and downs, frustrations, and achievements. The other is the building and nurturing of a business as a livelihood and an expression of personal vision and achievement – through a lifetime of ups and downs, frustrations, and achievements.
A new chapter in the DIAL-AN-ANGEL success story
2003 marked a much-anticipated date at DIAL-AN-ANGEL with Danielle Robertson, Dena's third daughter, assuming the role of CEO for the Pty Limited company. "We view our 40th anniversary as a tremendous milestone for DIAL-AN-ANGEL. As we celebrate our past accomplishments, we would also like to thank our loyal customers and Angels for the collaboration and efforts that have made us a successful company. We look forward to continuing this success with a firm commitment to quality, integrity and above all else, great service", said Danielle Robertson, CEO.
Danielle believes that a vital ingredient in the continued success of the business is the company's assertion that field Angels should regard their vocation as being honourable, valuable to the entire community and as a real skill. There are no "down-trodden Sadies" registered with DIAL-AN-ANGEL because DIAL-AN-ANGEL staff demand that clients treat the Angels with consideration and courtesy.
High standards in conditions and remuneration have been established and unreasonable requests and unfair practices are actively discouraged. Once again DIAL-AN-ANGEL finds itself at the leading edge by recognising the valuable contribution that visiting angels who will work as little as three hours a week can make to the workforce.
"We are always seeking to register new Angels. They can be mums with grown children, active grandmothers who want to stay that way and granddads, who enjoy driving, working in the garden and around the home. Angels come in all age groups, shapes and sizes, but the one thing they all have in common is that they really are the best!" boasts Danielle.
DIAL-AN-ANGEL Pty Limited is a private, family owned and operated Australian company. It is the only national agency specialising in the provision of home and family care. The company provides assistance with all home-based services, housekeeping, childcare, Eldercare-at-home™, in-home nursing, gardener-handyman services, window cleaning, in-home entertaining and corporate functions. www.dialanangel.com
DIAL-AN-ANGEL Pty Limited is a private, family owned and operated Australian company.