I'm Sam Cox, aka 'Chopper' to those around the Tanunda Cricket Club...thanks to my first season playing when I was ending my Movember growth of a handlebar mo. Anyway, I digress. My wife Shelley and I have lived here for 16 years, now with our young family and operating our co-working business, Workspace Barossa. 

I’ve been travelling from Tanunda to the Adelaide CBD for 16 years now. I love my job as a Computer Analyst/Developer, I work with a great team, but I also love our lifestyle here in the Barossa. Unfortunately, each working day of that 16 years has consisted of a 25min drive, 45min train ride and a brisk 10min walk – and that’s even before I’ve started work. Add to that the return trip, I’ve spent roughly 3 hours per workday of this past 16 years commuting. Yikes.

Since Workspace Barossa opened last July, I’ve been able to negotiate working remotely for 1 day per week, from here in Tanunda. This has gifted our family 3 extra hours together a week. My commute is now 3 mins each way. Huge difference.

I have wifi, printing, a desk to work from for the day, kitchenette & bathroom facilities. It also has meant that school drop off & pick-up is a much more regular occurrence, as is the odd morning bike ride with a mate before work.

At the Workspace I can book a meeting room when I have video meetings; I can also use the Media Space equipped with a Blue Yeti microphone and ring light for my more ‘formal’ video calls. The light adds a nice natural glow to my handsome profile!

Since COVID19 restrictions, our entire staff of 2,500 people have been working remotely, most from home, so I’ve enjoyed these benefits in full, over the past 3 months based in the Barossa. Home.

I now feel more connected to my town and community, I save on fuel and it’s great to have people to talk to – at home it’s only our two dogs, Maggie & Walter, plus the temptation of other distractions. Ongoing our company has identified a great opportunity to offer our staff a combination of home + office-based arrangements, and are working quickly towards that.

Flexibility is key – as long as we’re accountable and are performing, we are valued team members. My company is confident that I’m in a productive environment; I have the necessary tools & facilities to perform my job, so there is no reason I can’t be productive.

Don’t get me wrong, I still miss seeing my team in person however we have daily video check-ins and the occasional Friday arvo virtual drinks – which is vital in keeping connected and nurturing our team morale.
It's actually meant we have better communication & share a lot more. Cool.

I encourage you to book in for a tour of Workspace Barossa - we'd love to show you around, and see how we might be able to help you #DoGoodThings. 

TUESDAY 9 JUNE 2pm – 4pm, several timeslots available here:Workspace Barossa Tour #1

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