Workforce Development Kit - Community Services & Health Industry ...

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHERA collaborative WorkforceDevelopment ModelIn 2011, a group of employers in the Mid North Coastof New South Wales created a workforce developmentprogram with the aim of increasing the supply ofwork-ready applicants with the right skills, knowledge,attitudes and behaviours necessary to secureemployment in the Aged Care industry. The ‘BringingIt All Together’ project demonstrates how collaborativeworkplace based programs can deliver workforcedevelopment outcomes for employers, employees andjob seekers.The program includes a seriesof workforce participation tools,a preparatory program forjobseekers which introduces andattracts new entrants to the AgedCare sector, and ongoing careerdevelopment opportunities forexisting workers.‘Bringing it all Together’ developed an Industry-ledWorkforce Development Model for the local Aged Careindustry. The model itself is ‘transferable’, and providesthe guidance for skill building and career advancementopportunities in any industry.This project was based on a collaborative processand a multidisciplinary team, which included a fundedcoordinator. Using a systems approach, the teamanalysed the conditions that had precipitated thecurrent system, the cost/benefits of changing versusnot changing, and created a shared vision of the finalgoal.Once the team defined the parameters of the project,an Industry Reference Group was established andtasks were assigned, including the review of numerousinternal documents, policies, and procedures along withanecdotal research on how other organisations haveapproached this issue.Key areas were identified including attraction, selection,recruitment and retention, training, promotionalpractices, and present and future staff needs.During the project, 11 employers created a partnershipwith NSW State Training Services, two Job Servicesproviders, two Apprenticeship Centres, one RegisteredTraining Organisation CS&HISC:• Approximately 500 job seekers attendedinformation sessions and participated in the project‘filter’ process• Approximately 100 jobseekers participated in a fourweek unpaid pre-vocational program• Approximately 50 of these jobseekers where placedinto traineeships and are currently undergoingtraining. Currently the retention is 100%• 688 existing staff are being skilled under theNational Workforce Development Program.The outcomes of this project include:• An in depth understanding of the region’s aged careworkforce issues and a regional workforce planowned by the aged care providers• A ‘supply chain’ for appropriately selected andtrained employees for the local aged care industry,which includes partnerships between local JobsServices providers as well as a developing VET inSchools program• Career progression and opportunities fordevelopment for aged care staff in the region• Good working partnerships with responsiveemployment, education and training providers inthe region• Workforce Participation Tools: Dedicated AgedCare Career Information Page, industry posters andguides.28CS&HISC Workforce Development Kit