Customer service award

Peninsula and Caulfield campus director Mr John White (right) congratulates MONSU general manager Mr Andrew O'Brien, and president Ms Claire Robinson on their customer service award.

Monash University Student Union Inc has been recognised and rewarded for its good customer service with a state award in the category of Medium Business at the Australian Customer Service Awards.

MONSU, which operates on the Caulfield and Peninsula campuses, is the first organisation from the tertiary education sector and the first union to enter and win the awards.

MONSU general manager Mr Andrew O'Brien said it was very encouraging for the organisation to gain recognition for its customer service strategies.

"We still have a long way to go, but it's a sign that we are headed in the right direction," he said.

The awards, based on an appraisal of a written submission and a site visit by independent evaluators, recognise excellence in customer service. Key assessment criteria include service leadership, customer research, innovation and improvement, responsiveness, and customer satisfaction.

The awards are presented by the Australian Customer Service Association Inc, a non-profit professional organisation dedicated to developing excellence in the management and delivery of customer service in Australia.

ACSA has more than 1500 members from all industries, and the national judging panel, chaired by Professor Robert Widing of the Melbourne Business School, comprises senior academics and business executives.

MONSU now goes into the running for the ACSA National Awards, to be announced in late October.