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National Workforce Project

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Pilot sites

As part of our National Workforce Project, NDS invited a number of disability service providers to pilot a range of workforce strategies aimed at attracting and retaining skilled staff in non-government organisations.

In the table below, we have listed:

  • the disability service organisations that came forward to act as pilot sites for our National Workforce Project;
  • the workforce issues they agreed to target; and
  • the workforce strategies they have implemented.
  
 

Findings

Findings from these ongoing pilots are being captured using the Most Significant Change technique. 

This technique requires three rounds of interviews with each of the Pilot Sites to track their progress and findings over a twelve-month period.

Findings from Rounds One, Two and Three are now available for download.

Bedford

Bedford is a South Australian not-for-profit organisation dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with a disability or disadvantage. We are the State's largest and most diverse provider of employment, training, residential services and life-skills for people with a disability, providing jobs and training in one of four businesses. APG (horticulture and grounds maintenance), Bedford Packaging, Bedford Furniture and Bedford Hospitality, or in the open workforce through Career Systems.

  

Workforce issues targeted:

 

 

  1. Difficulty attracting and retaining staff in regional areas.

  2. Lack of understanding of regional demographics, competencies held and drivers of the workforce.

  

Strategies
implemented:

 

 

  1. Data gathering and analysis.

  2. Job redesign in response to data/trends identified.

  3. Targeted marketing campaign.

 

  

 

    

Barkuma Inc

Barkuma Incorporated is a registered, not-for-profit community organisation that provides services to people with an intellectual or other disability. Our organisation consists of several divisions located throughout Adelaide, which offer a range of services to people with an intellectual disability. We aim for quality, flexibility and constantly seek new and innovative service options.

  

Workforce issues targeted:

 

  1. Strengthening and retaining managers to support organisational growth.

  

Strategies
implemented:

 

  1. Job role review and redesign.

  2. Development of leadership program.

     

 

  

 

    

Interaction Disability Services

Interaction Disability Services has the vision to be an innovative organisation which will empower people with a disability to meet their own needs in the NSW community. Our services include Post School Options, Transition to Work Program, Ageing Parent Carer's Respite, Community Options Program, Children's and Adult Respite Program, Specialist Community Program, Supported Accommodation, Support and Training Services and Training and Behavioural Intervention Support Service (TABISS).

  

Workforce issues targeted:

 

 

 

  1. Need to increase pool of mature part time and casual workers.
  

Strategies
implemented:

 

 

 

  1. Targeted marketing campaign.

  2. Revise/rework job descriptions.

  3. Establish processes for recruitment that include information sessions, job trial and ongoing contact.

 

  

 

    

Keppel Community Care

Keppel Community Care is a community business providing in home and community based services to people with disabilities and frail aged people in Central Queensland. Services provided include home help, personal care, social support, transport, delivered meals, in home respite, centre based respite, yard maintenance, allied health care, accommodation support, community access, and support for day to day living in the community (a centre based service for people with mental illness). Services are provided in the areas covered by the Rockhampton Regional Council and Mackay Regional Council boundaries. Approximately 90 staff are employed to provide services to over 400 clients.

  

Workforce issues targeted:

 

 

  1. Retention 50 – 60%.
  

Strategies
implemented:

 

 

  1. Develop a collective agreement to give staff more control over roster planning and day to day decision making.

  2. Greater surety in hours.

 

 

 

    

Karingal

Karingal is a not-for-profit community organisation based in Geelong, Victoria. Karingal offers a range of support services to people with varying disabilities, people with a mental illness and the frail aged. Our services include shared supported accommodation, day activity options, independent living support, case management, respite, employment and residential aged care and Job Network.

  

Workforce issues targeted:

 

 

  1. Engagement and retention of workers in in-home support services.

  2. Support and development – in-home support workers.

  3. Broaden age profile.

     

  

Strategies
implemented:

 

 

  1. Establishing employee support groups, incorporating professional development and support.

  2. Offer greater work life balance on an individual basis through more flexible working arrangements.

  3. Facilitate placement of VCAL students in disability work.

  4. Liaise with local job network to ensure better match of candidates to jobs.

 

  

 

    

Koomarri

Koomarri is a leading service provider for people with a disability in Canberra and the surrounding NSW districts. Koomarri supports people with a disability to lead full and abundant lives through achieving and maintaining employment, and by living and participating in their communities. Koomarri provides community support and employment services for over 350 people with moderate to severe disabilities and their families in the ACT and surrounding districts.

  

Workforce issues targeted:

 

 

  1. Increase value from training.

  2. Attraction and retention.

  

Strategies
implemented:

 

 

  1. Job redesign.

  2. Strengthen induction training.

  3. Use relationship mapping for supporting career path implementation and succession planning.

 

 

 

    

Lower Great Southern Community Living Association

The Lower Great Southern Community Living Association (LGSCLA) based in Albany, WA is a non-profit independent agency providing support to people with a disability and their families. The support we provide includes co-resident support, daytime and/or overnight support in or out of home, assistance to go out into the local area and/or participate in community activities, arranging short stays in holiday accommodation or a support worker's home, assisting with continuing education and assisting with practical tasks and skill development.

  

Workforce issues targeted:

 

 

  1. Low profile of organisation.
  2. Low value status of work.
  3. Lack of clarity around
    co- ordinators roles
  4. Retention.
  

Strategies
implemented:

 

 

  1. Obtain funds to market organisation.
  2. Increase quality of supervision.
  3. Redesign
    co-ordinator role.
  4. Improve relationship with TAFE to increase quality of training.

 

  

 

    

Nulsen Haven Association

Nulsen Haven Association (Inc) is a not-for-profit organisation that supports West Australians with intellectual and physical disabilities, including multiple physical disabilities and people with acquired brain injuries. We are a leader in providing accommodation, recreation, administration and family supports to individuals with disabilities. Our Vision is to support people to achieve their full potential.

  

Workforce issues targeted:

 

 

  1. Retention.

  2. Work satisfaction.

  3. Positive workplace culture.

  4. Need for responsive, well targeted training.

  

Strategies
implemented:

 

 

  1. Introduce more variety into jobs.

  2. Redevelop induction training and support processes.

  3. Review and improve staff recognition processes.

  4. Collaborate with local TAFE and support testing of training program by a range of NGO’s.

 

  

 

    

Oakdale Services Tasmania

Oakdale Services Tasmania is a not-for profit organisation that provides accommodation support and community access to people with a disability. Our services include independent living units, acquired brain injury accommodation and community access, a community living program, youth services and an 'ageing in place' program. Our mission is to provide services for individuals with a disability which will enrich their lives through continual personal growth, friendship and community interaction.

  

Workforce issues targeted:

 

 

  1. Need for client / lifestyle driven rostering system.
  

Strategies
implemented:

 

 

  1. Explore rostering system options.

  2. Consult with stakeholders and conduct financial modeling on rostering system options.

  3. Trial rostering system(s) with broad range of local stakeholders.

 

  

 

    

Optia Inc

Optia Incorporated is a not for profit organisation providing a range of accommodation options to people with a disability across Tasmania. Our innovative developments include transition accommodation and cluster independent units. We also provide a leisure and recreation program and support to adolescents and young adults with challenging behaviours. Optia has support options in city, regional and rural locations within Tasmania as well as a broad ranging tenancy support program.

  

Workforce issues targeted:

 

 

  1. Need for greater career opportunities for support workers.

  

Strategies
implemented:

 

 

  1. New job design.

 

  

 

    

Somerville Community Services

Somerville Community Services Inc is a non-government, not for profit, youth, and family and community welfare organisation in the Northern Territory. Somerville's Disability Services manages ten houses providing supported accommodation for people with developmental disabilities and high support needs. Clients are encouraged to develop skills in the house where they live as well as being active members in the community.

  

Workforce issues targeted:

 

  1. Retention

  2. Need for Client Brokerage Training

  

Strategies
implemented:

 

  1. Evaluate current family friendly workplace strategy in context of turnover.

  2. Establish partnership with Charles Darwin University to strengthen outcomes from training.

  3. Job redesign to accommodate brokerage.

  4. Review of job design and working arrangements to accommodate international students able to work 20hrs per week.

 

  

 

    

Valmar

Valmar is a not-for-profit company that, along with its predecessor organisations, has provided services for people with disabilities from the Tumut district of New South Wales for over 40 years. Our services include Residential Support, Community Living, Community Access and Community Participation Services, Career Development Initiatives, Tumut Meals on Wheels Service, Home Modification and Maintenance Service, Flexible Respite Options, Tumut Youth Commitment, Open Employment and Valmar Business Services.

  

Workforce issues targeted:

 

 

  1. Broaden age profile and gender profile of workforce targeting young people still at school to consider work in disabilities as a career choice.

     

  

Strategies
implemented:

 

 

  1. Amend enterprise agreement to accommodate both mature age and school-based traineeships.

  2. Liaise with NSW TAFE, Board of Studies and VET in Schools directorate to develop school-based traineeship in Disabilities (that is currently not in existence in NSW).

  3. Produce a recruitment DVD giving a true view of disability support work and the opportunities it presents, interviewing both male and female support staff & Coordinators.

  4. Establish partnerships with local schools and RTO’s.

  5. Commence recruitment program in local schools with information sessions.

 

  

 

    

Yooralla

Yooralla is a multi-faceted community based disability service provider, operating out of professionally managed administrative and service centers, kindergartens, schools, and other public facilities in community locations across Victoria. We provide practical solutions for around 30 000 Victorians with disabilities including therapy and equipment, accommodation and respite, employment and recreation, and independent living skills.

  

Workforce issues targeted:

 

 

  1. Performance and retention of supervisors and support staff.

     

  

Strategies
implemented:

 

 

  1. Job redesign – consult and rework position descriptions.

  2. Skill development to support changes.

 

  

 

    

 

The National Workforce Project has been funded under the National Skills Shortages Strategy on behalf of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
Department of Education, Employment and Workforce Relations

 

Last updated: 18 Mar 2009