Sodexo Australia recognised with two wins at the 2026 AREEA Industry Awards

Sep. 01, 2026

Bus Driver Upskill Program and Mass Transport leader Larlee Crabtree recognised for workforce innovation and leadership

Sodexo Australia has received two awards at the 2026 AREEA Industry Awards, recognising the impact of its workforce development initiatives and emerging leadership in the Energy & Resources sector.

The company’s Bus Driver Upskill Program received the Workforce and Workplace Relations Innovation Award, while Larlee Crabtree, Transport Services & Contractor Manager, was named AREEA Future Leader.

While recognising different achievements, both awards reflect Sodexo's approach to solving operational challenges through workforce capability, innovation and leadership development.

AREEA's Industry Awards recognise leadership, innovation and workplace excellence across Australia's resources and energy sector.

Building capability from within

Like many organisations operating across regional and remote Australia, Sodexo faced an increasing shortage of qualified bus drivers.

At the same time, employees interested in transport careers often faced barriers including licensing costs and specialist training requirements.

Rather than relying solely on external recruitment, Sodexo created a pathway to develop capability from within.

The Bus Driver Upskill Program gives existing employees from roles including utility services, catering and wellness the opportunity to train for a career in transport. Successful participants complete a fully funded training pathway, including license requirements, coach operation, safety qualifications and site-specific transport training.

New drivers then transition into permanent operational roles, supported by experienced transport mentors as they build confidence and capability on site.

Since launching in 2022, the program has delivered more than 55 qualified bus drivers across 10 cohorts, with a 100% completion rate and every participant progressing into a bus driver role.

Creating career pathways and a more diverse workforce

The program's impact extends beyond filling vacancies.

Women represent 35% of participants, compared with 15.8% of the broader Rio Tinto bus driver workforce. Indigenous participation has reached 5.8%, compared with 1.8% across the existing transport workforce.

Nine graduates have also progressed into roles including Transport Leading Hand, Transport Supervisor and Assistant Village Manager. The program has helped improve retention, with a reported retention outcome of 65.3%, compared with 26% before its introduction.

By removing financial, licensing and confidence barriers, the initiative has created a pathway for employees who may not previously have considered a career in transport achievable.

Recognising a future leader

Named AREEA's Future Leader, Larlee Crabtree has quickly established herself as a driving force behind a range of operational and safety improvements across Sodexo's Mass Transport function.

In the newly created role of Transport Services & Contractor Manager, Larlee has helped strengthen processes across contractor management, compliance, workforce scheduling and service delivery.

One of her first major projects focused on improving how new services were added to existing schedules. By reviewing workforce requirements and contractor utilisation, Larlee helped refine role allocation and reduce overlap between internal and contractor resources.

The changes delivered approximately $140,000 in monthly cost savings while maintaining operational capability and service standards.

Larlee also played a key role in the Seatbelt Compliance Project, which used engagement, education, monitoring and accountability to address driver safety behaviours. The project reduced seatbelt non-compliance incidents by 92%, from 617 incidents per month to fewer than 50.

Leadership through practical action

Larlee has also supported the development of the dedicated Indigenous Bus Driver Upskill Program, helping create culturally supported pathways into transport careers for Indigenous employees.

Her work reflects a leadership approach grounded in practical improvements and measurable outcomes, while maintaining a strong focus on the people affected by change.

As a young female leader in a traditionally male-dominated transport environment, Larlee has also become an example of how leadership can be built through capability, accountability and action.

Recognition for the people behind the outcomes

These two awards recognise programs and individuals, but neither outcome was achieved by one person alone.

The Bus Driver Upskill Program has been shaped by collaboration between Operations, Recruitment, Learning & Development, Transport subject matter experts and training partner Miro Training, alongside the leaders and mentors supporting graduates on site.

Larlee's achievements have also been supported by the Mass Transport team and the colleagues, contractors and stakeholders working alongside her to improve the way the function operates.

The recognition is a welcome milestone. More importantly, it reinforces what can happen when businesses invest in their people, remove barriers to opportunity and give good ideas the support to become practical solutions.

Sodexo Australia congratulates Larlee Crabtree and everyone involved in the Bus Driver Upskill Program on their recognition at the 2026 AREEA Industry Awards.