Jono Wheeler’s move to Alice Springs was a chance to create lasting change in a community that welcomed him with open arms. With nearly two decades of experience at Woolworths, Jono has embraced the challenges of his new role as store manager, forging strong local partnerships and driving initiatives that support both the business and the community. After 18 months in the Northern Territory, Jono shares his story, his passion for the region, and the impact he’s making in Alice Springs.

How did you come to start working for Woolworths?

I've been at Woolworths for nearly 17 years . I had moved to Australia from South Africa. I knew of Woolworths and thought it looked like a great place to work, with great career opportunities, and it was very welcoming. I started by pushing trolleys at a store in Western Australia, and the service manager offered me an opportunity for growth, and I took it.

How did the move to Alice Springs come about?

I was working in Newman, WA, a town even more remote than Alice Springs. Given that experience, I was asked if I wanted to go to Alice Springs for two weeks and have a look and see if it could be something bigger. I had never been to the NT before. I came here for two weeks and then I loved it, so I decided to stay. This is home now. I’ll stay for as long as Woolworths will let me.

You’ve created some powerful partnerships since you’ve arrived. How did the partnership with Saltbush start?

Saltbush is an Indigenous organisation that works across the NT. They initially came to us and said they were looking for donations of fruit and vegetables for their classes on healthy eating in the workplace. I went to the eating classes and enquired a little bit more about what was involved and how we could support further in that space, and then the partnership grew from that.

You’ve made some recent hires thanks to school tours conducted with the Clontarf Foundation, which works to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men…

Clontarf is a massive partnership for the business in remote towns, so I understood the importance of what they do for kids in communities. We worked with the partners here and connected really well, so we initiated the school tours. Students, normally Year 10 kids, come to the shop and we walk them around, show them different departments, and give them opportunities to ask questions and talk to the team and have a little bit of fun in the shop. That then turns into, ”So what job would you like to do, what department would you like to see yourself working in?” It grows from there.

Is there a department that the students usually gravitate towards?

Fruit and veg because it’s practical. You can try new season mangoes, bananas, berries. I think they enjoy the practicality of seeing it. For example, they are so intrigued about how much a watermelon weighs when they pick it up.

Your work also extends to Foodbank and the Salvation Army. How do you assist these organisations?

We have a breakfast program with Foodbank where we donate fruit every week during the school term and they help make sure that kids get fed. We basically donate all the leftover meat, bread products, or any products you can't sell. For the Salvation Army, we create little care packs for them, whether it's some sanitary products and stuff like that. Whatever fundraising event they support within the community, we just support by donating so that attendees have to eat.

Do you have a proudest achievement in Alice Springs?

If you go to any organisation here, they know who we are, and what we do for the community. They know that whatever they need from us, we’ll work to make it happen. Internally, it’s an achievement to be able to build a team and keep them in these rural stores. When I started here, we were having a 300% turnover. Now we have around 70% team turnover. Obviously, we're doing something right, keeping staff safe and keeping them wanting to come to work.

I make sure I just remain present. It’s very important to listen to the team and be present for the team. That’s kind of hard in an office. We all stick together. I’m not just an employer, I'm not just a line manager.

What is it about Woolworths that has made this possible?

I have a lot of freedom to be able to do what I do. I’ve been supported with all these initiatives for the right reason, we’re not just doing it to get the photo. I can pick up the phone and ask for whatever resources I need for myself, for the team, or for the community, and Woolworths says, “Yes, no worries, whatever you need.”