Vocus People
A foundation built on real world risk
Jera's career began far from any office. Originally from New Zealand, he moved to Australia in 2005 and spent years working in hands on, high risk environments. Starting as a drilling offsider, he progressed to topside welding on a salvage team in the Mediterranean before qualifying as a commercial diver. He worked both onshore in Western Australia and offshore in the Middle East.
After several years offshore, he transitioned into rigging, travelling across Australia on major infrastructure projects, including the Ichthys LNG Project in Darwin. It was there that his career shifted towards safety. He became a Safety Advisor specialising in high-risk activities such as working at heights, confined space entry, and crane and rigging operations.
What attracted him to Vocus was the opportunity to step into a completely new sector. "During the interview process, everyone I met came across as genuine, passionate and truly invested in the company's people and purpose," he reflects. "That authenticity, and the chance to shape how safety is managed in a fast-moving business, made joining Vocus an easy decision."
Building a safety culture from the ground up
Jera's first 18 months at Vocus were intense but rewarding. Starting as a Senior Safety Advisor in a two-person Workplace Health & Safety (WHS) team, he had significant ground to cover in a short timeframe.
"I started by leading the implementation of our Critical Risk Management Program, which gave me the chance to meet almost every frontline worker across the business," he explains. This comprehensive approach allowed him to understand how work was really done across diverse environments, from data centres to remote cable sites.
As his role evolved, Jera built stronger connections with frontline teams and leaders, deepening his understanding of ground-level operations and creating opportunities to influence safety practices across different areas.
"What stood out was the strength of leadership support," Jera says. "Leaders genuinely cared about their people's safety. When we needed backing, it was immediate. You often hear that safety starts at the top at Vocus, that's something you actually see in practice."
Just over a year ago, Jera took on the role of WHS Program Lead, overseeing the integration of Donesafe and other major safety initiatives. The WHS team has grown from two to eight in just four years, reflecting how seriously Vocus invests in safety.
Protecting the people who keep Australia connected
Jera's interaction with field teams takes many forms, most happening through project work, consulting with teams to understand how operations really function and sense-checking the WHS approach before rollout.
"I've built strong relationships over time, so many of my interactions now are one-on-one with frontline workers or managers seeking guidance," he explains. "My focus is always on reinforcing the controls that matter most, especially those tied to our Critical Risk Management program, so our people stay safe and get home at the end of every shift."
One of his most rewarding projects was introducing the Critical Risk Management program. "When we began, our teams already had a strong foundation in safety but this program helped us take it to the next level," he says. "It gave everyone greater clarity on what truly prevents serious injuries and fatalities, focusing on the few things that matter most."
By defining each critical control clearly, the program moved from general safety awareness to specific, actionable assurance. For example, instead of simply saying 'use barricading' they specified how solid barricades must be positioned when operating a forklift and what steps to take if that control wasn't possible.
"The result has been a real cultural shift," Jera notes. "Field teams now approach risk prevention with greater confidence, ownership and understanding of why each control exists, which has had a direct, positive impact on their safety and wellbeing."
A people-first culture
The culture at Vocus aligns perfectly with Jera's working style. "It's genuinely caring and people-first," he says. "What stands out most is the balance between high performance and genuine support. People look out for each other, celebrate wins and pull together when things get tough."
Vocus demonstrates that safety is a genuine priority through action, not just words. Leaders regularly visit sites, engage directly with teams and make safety part of every discussion. The company has also invested in tools like Donesafe, JESI and the Critical Risk Management framework to make safety practical and visible.
"Most importantly, people feel safe to speak up" Jera emphasises. "That openness and accountability show that safety isn't just compliance here—it's genuinely part of how we work."
Looking ahead
Beyond his professional achievements, Jera balances his demanding role with family life— supported by his wonderful wife, he has two daughters in Melbourne and a son in New Zealand.
His advice for anyone starting a career in WHS is grounded in experience: "Start by understanding how work is really done, not just how it's documented. Get out in the field, talk to the people doing the job and learn from their experience. That's where you'll see the real risks and opportunities to make a difference."
He emphasises that WHS is about relationships, not rules. "Build trust. When people know you're there to help, they'll be open and engaged. Above all, remember safety is about people, not paperwork."
For Jera, his role at Vocus directly supports the business's priorities. "When our people and contractors are safe, they can focus on delivering great service to our customers without interruption. It's about creating an environment where people feel supported and protected, and that positively flows through to how we operate and how our customers experience Vocus."
