About
Preferable

“We know that the right people in your team underpin great organisational success”.

Our mission is to connect preferred talent with suitably aligned organisations. Our passion for people and collaborative spirit is what inspires us to build lasting partnerships and seek to understand the unique aspirations of each individual and organisation we work with. We strive to remain agile and continuously evolve our approach to maximise efficient, ethical and inclusive processes whilst maintaining high quality outcomes. Through this we aim to strengthen the impact and success of our client organisations and empower candidates to achieve their greatest career dreams.
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We are a boutique agency that guarantees you being serviced by a highly experienced recruiter, and our promise to reduce the time and cost to hire, without comprising ultimate quality.



Candidates will be supported through their career development and provided ongoing advice and industry insights. We love being such an important and pivotal part of people's careers, transforming connections and reaching aspirations.

Our Values

Efficiency

We deliver effective and efficient recruitment solutions. We achieve this through streamlined recruitment processes, state of the art technology & tools, and leveraging our deep connections and network within the sector. This ensures reduced cost and time to hire, without sacrificing quality.

Approachability

We understand that approachability increases the likelihood of trust and openness. Our culture is based on approachability as when you put people at ease, you enable them to think and do their best in your presence. This value is applied within Preferable and is always extended to each and every one of our partnerships.

Professionalism

Professionalism to us means upholding ethical standards, confidentiality, inclusion, and integrity. We respect all parties, offer honest feedback, and follow best practices in our processes. It also includes our capability expertise and prioritising the right fit for both candidate and client.

Diversity & Inclusivity

Our client base is diverse, including organisations focused on disability, Indigenous services, LGBTIQA+ services, mental health, aged care, CALD communities, refugees, seniors, youth, animal rights, women’s health, and legal services. We work with candidates who often have relevant lived experience and implement processes free from discrimination. Our ongoing consultant training ensures we attract a broad, fair, and diverse talent pool.

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About Gemma

My recruitment career began in 1993, developing and honing my skills through thorough training and close mentorship under two successful, ethical directors, eventually earning a directorship myself. This experience, now spanning decades of industry evolution, has instilled in me an agility and skill set to provide transparent and creative recruitment solutions.
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Throughout my career, I have built extensive networks across corporate, public, and not-for-profit sectors, as well as in supply chain & logistics and socially responsible businesses.
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As the founder of Preferable, I lead with a commitment to achieve optimal outcomes for clients and candidates alike and my approach centres on honest and authentic conversations that facilitate informed decisions. As a curious, critical thinker, I build strong client relationships through a deep understanding of their objectives. I am passionate about supporting and cultivating candidate trust and take a genuine interest in helping them evaluate their options which progress their careers forward.
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I am committed to continuously reviewing and implementing best practice efficiency, both in cost and time, whilst providing a thorough and inclusive process.

Gemma Schade
Preferable CEO and Founder

Gemma went the extra mile despite me being a last minute application for a role that I was excited about. My application was submitted 4 days prior to closing and the organisation was already short-listing. I felt from a candidate perspective that she quickly realised a potential fit. Gemma called me and explored my experience further and offered me confidence through her advocacy to get me included in the final candidate list for interview. Throughout the process she kept me informed and supported. I was successful in securing the role and after starting, Gemma maintained appropriate care and interest in how I was settling in. Turns out it was a great fit for me and I'm really happy and grateful for Gemma's tenacity on my behalf. Trust her to offer you similar support when there is a role in an organisation you just know you would be right for and just need that someone who takes the time to know you as well as the role she's recruiting for.

Penny Burns
General Manager
Construction Charitable Works

I have engaged Gemma to assist in the recruitment and selection of a number of strategic management roles given the deep knowledge and expertise she brings to the recruitment process, her commitment to understanding your organisation’s objectives and her ability to identify high quality candidates.
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Gemma is an excellent communicator and provided timely and valuable feedback and advice throughout the process. which strengthened our confidence in selecting talented new managers to take our organisation forward. I also admired the respect Gemma demonstrated to candidates throughout the process – which reflected positively on our organisation as well as on Gemma.

Jill McCabe
Former CEO
Professionals Australia

I highly recommend Gemma for anyone looking for a knowledgeable and experienced recruiter who truly cares about finding the best candidates for their clients. She is a true professional. Thank you for your hard work and dedication, Gemma.

Lori Nitchie
Fundraiser
Professional

Gemma was the lead in our recruiting of a Fundraising Coordinator. Post-Covid has turned out to be a challenging employment market and with Gemma's leadership, we navigated to a successful outcome. We are grateful for Gemma's service.

Karen Livingstone
Advocacy and Development

Gemma has been a pleasure to work with recently on a key fundraising role. I highly recommend Gemma, they really understand Non Profit Organisations human resourcing needs.

Antoinette Gibson
Fundraiser
Professional

Right from our very first conversation, Gemma was engaged, reactive and willing to help out. She kept in touch giving me weekly updates and always reached out whenever there was an opportunity of interest. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a new opportunity or to any organisation looking to hire.

Rajdeep Singh

I had the pleasure of working with Gemma in two distinct capacities, first as a candidate, and later as a director seeking to recruit.As a candidate I was impressed by Gemma’s knowledge of the role. She consistently kept me informed about the progress of my application, which made the process smooth and stress free.When I transitioned to a director role and needed to recruit for my new team, Gemma once again proved invaluable. She worked closely with me to ensure that our decisions aligned with our future requirements. Gemma managed the process from both sides with efficiency, and she continued to check in regularly on both myself and the new team members after they started.Gemma’s commitment to her work and her ability to support both candidates and employers throughout the recruitment process is commendable.

Marni Bradley
Director Membership – Professionals Australia
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and recognise their deep and enduring connection to the land, waters, and their culture. We also pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.  Preferable recognises the importance of working together to build a better future for all Australians.
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