Education

An Innovative Workforce
A motivated, qualified, and supported workforce is the
key to an innovative organisation. The department places
a high value on recognising, rewarding and retaining
employees with diverse skills who work across the
department. Professional learning and development
supports the growth of a successful, skilled, innovative
workforce and inspiring leadership.
Employees feel valued when their health and wellbeing
needs are put at the forefront, with key strategies that
enhance welfare and commitment. To create an effective
and efficient organisation, it is important that staff in all
areas have the required knowledge and skills to support
each other for learning, growth and achievement.
In September 2012, in response to Employment Direction
No. 26 – Managing Performance in the State Service, we
introduced the Performance and Development Framework.
By June 2013, over 98% of staff had participated in a
performance and development meeting with their
line manager and had a Performance and Development
Plan (PDP) in place. This PDP identifies individual key
performance goals and professional development needs.
As part of the PDP process, all plans are revisited and
updated annually.
As part of our commitment to the health and wellbeing
of our staff, the department, in conjunction with the
Department of Health and Human Services and
Workplace Standards Tasmania, contributed to the
development of a Healthy Workplace Resource Toolkit
– Your Simple Guide to Workplace Health and Wellbeing.
This toolkit was trialed in a number of departmental
settings across the state and will be further promoted as a
major resource throughout the next year. Staff awareness
of the Healthy@Work program and related initiatives has
been raised through regular articles in departmental
newsletters. The department’s Healthy@Work staff
intranet site has been redesigned to provide staff with a
consolidated health and wellbeing related resource.
In terms of providing professional learning for all staff,
including non-teaching staff, we are one of the most
progressive education departments in Australia.
The Professional Learning Institute (PLI) is responsible for
delivering and brokering high quality professional learning
for all staff in the department and ensures the realisation
of our vision of a successful, skilled and innovative
workforce. In partnership with the PLI, a major Corporate
Services Division professional development program
was delivered in-house to 277 staff with workshops in
collaboration and team building; conflict resolution and
negotiation; and critical thinking and problem solving
(collectively known as the 3Cs). The PLI will release
its 2014 Prospectus for all departmental employees in
October 2013.
Department at a Glance » Strategic Focus
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