St Kilda Football Club and ELMO

St Kilda Football Club, fondly known as the Saints, is a cornerstone of Australian rules football with a legacy that dates back to 1873. Based in Melbourne, the Saints are celebrated for their enduring history, iconic red, white, and black colours, and unwavering fan loyalty. 

As one of the AFL’s oldest clubs, St Kilda remains deeply committed to fostering talent, strengthening community ties, and striving for excellence both on and off the field.

Stacey Dowdell, Executive General Manager People and Culture at St Kilda Football Club, recalls the HR challenges faced by the club before implementing ELMO.

“We had one system for engagement surveys, but everything else was manual. Spreadsheets, trackers, external tools for recruitment – it was incredibly time-consuming and prone to human error,” Stacey explains.

Coming out of COVID, recruitment volume became the loudest pain point for St Kilda, straining the club’s small but lean People and Culture team. Stacey knew that smarter processes could free up time and capacity to focus on more strategic, high-impact initiatives.

When Stacey Dowdell began her search for a solution to St Kilda Football Club’s HR challenges, she needed a platform that could truly transform how her team operated. The demands of manual systems and increasing recruitment pressures left her seeking a smarter, more efficient way forward. It wasn’t long before ELMO caught her attention, not just for its functionality, but for its potential to revolutionise how the club engaged with its people.

One of the first things that stood out to Stacey was ELMO’s ability to provide a customisable onboarding experience. For St Kilda, embedding their cultural DNA was critical.

Stacey envisioned a seamless introduction for new recruits that felt uniquely “St Kilda” – a first impression that resonated with the club’s values and history.

As she explored further, Stacey discovered ELMO’s comprehensive learning modules, which offered the perfect solution for upskilling the team. The platform’s breadth and depth made it an ideal tool for supporting employee growth and development, which was a key priority for the club’s People and Culture strategy.

Finally, ELMO’s ability to integrate smoothly with St Kilda’s existing tools provided an added layer of efficiency. Stacey highlighted the importance of having a platform that worked seamlessly with their engagement survey system and a new Working with Children Check tool. This integration eliminated unnecessary administrative hurdles and made the entire process more cohesive.

Reflecting on the decision, Stacey summed it up simply: “The ability to customise onboarding and integrate across platforms was a game-changer for us.”

Going into the partnership, St Kilda expected to streamline recruitment, improve communication with candidates, and centralise HR data. ELMO’s onboarding process delivered beyond expectations. Stacey credits ELMO’s dedicated support team with ensuring a smooth implementation:

“We had one internal team member dedicated to the project with clear space to focus. ELMO’s consultant worked closely with us, understanding our business and helping us set everything up effectively.”

This collaborative approach ensured St Kilda’s HR team had the right guidance at every step, leading to a successful and efficient rollout.

The results of implementing ELMO were immediate and significant for St Kilda Football Club. The automation of processes brought about an unprecedented shift in how the HR team functioned.

Instead of being consumed by administrative tasks, Stacey and her team were able to focus on the club’s strategic priorities.

With newfound capacity, St Kilda restructured their HR team into a business partner model. This change allowed the People and Culture team to work closely with leaders across the club, providing support tailored to their specific needs. The transformation didn’t stop there.

Managers at St Kilda also experienced a tangible shift. ELMO enabled them to actively engage in the recruitment process without adding additional hours to their workload. Tasks that once felt burdensome became streamlined, creating a more consistent and efficient experience for everyone involved.

From the employees’ perspective, the transformation was equally impactful. With the introduction of a centralised HR dashboard, staff now had quick access to perks, benefits, and resources that were previously difficult to find or under-utilised. Stacey described the platform as a critical tool that significantly enhanced the employee experience.

“The impact has been transformational. ELMO’s automation freed up time, allowing us to restructure our team and focus on supporting leaders across the club,” Stacey shares.

Beyond streamlining HR operations, ELMO’s partnership has had a ripple effect across the St Kilda Football Club community. Stacey highlights how ELMO’s platform brought visibility to the club’s employee benefits, creating a new sense of engagement and appreciation among staff.

“We had great benefits in place, but no one knew exactly what they were. ELMO’s customisable dashboard changed that – now it’s simple for employees to access everything they need,” Stacey says.

This newfound accessibility reinforced the club’s commitment to supporting its people, fostering a stronger connection between the staff and the organisation.

Stacey describes ELMO’s customer support as a standout feature of the partnership. From day one, the ELMO team demonstrated a genuine commitment to helping St Kilda achieve its goals.

“The team at ELMO has always been available, committed, and invested in our success. It’s not just about providing a system – it’s about helping us achieve the best outcomes,” Stacey explains.

This hands-on, guided support has been critical in ensuring St Kilda’s HR transformation not only addressed immediate challenges but also aligned with the club’s long-term strategic goals

For Stacey, the partnership with ELMO has been defined by its flexibility and support. Whether it’s technical guidance or strategic discussions, Stacey appreciates knowing that ELMO is always ready to help.

“Whatever you need – from technical guidance to strategic discussions – ELMO is willing and able to help. It’s a real partnership, not just a product.”

With ELMO in place, St Kilda Football Club is now positioned to drive greater efficiency, support their leaders, and enhance the employee experience. Stacey recommends ELMO to any organisation looking to improve their HR processes:

“If your business is at the stage where you’ll realise the gains, ELMO is a great choice. It’s helped us unlock capacity, restructure our team, and focus on what matters most.”

ELMO’s partnership continues to deliver measurable benefits, ensuring that St Kilda is prepared to meet future growth with confidence.