Environmental scan 2011

Participation in the [Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council] CS&H ISC Environmental Scan 2011 included submissions, interviews and meetings with key stakeholders and partner events with state/territory industry advisory bodies around the country. Feedback has confirmed themes identified in 2010 with emphasis on demographic changes influencing new service approaches and the need for new roles and skills to meet demands. The community services and health industries continue to grow with an annual surge in workforce numbers of 8.6 per cent based on November 2010 figures. The all-industries workforce growth rate of 3.3 per cent was mostly outstripped in each state and territory with [New South Wales] NSW and Queensland adding almost 70,000 of the new workers and almost 20 per cent increases in both Tasmania and the [Australian Capital Territory] ACT. EScan 2011 feedback also recommends a range of additions and changes to the Health and Community Services Training Packages. These include more dynamic structures for assistant and support workers across health and community services, orthopitic/vision assistants, workforce design roles, early childhood development, new mental health areas and adult focused child welfare skills. Stakeholders provided advice about taking advantage of the new workforce development agenda driven by Skills Australia. Key considerations for enabling the workforce development agenda include: aligning local health and community services with training delivery needs; enhancing the understanding of vocational education and training and competency based training; creating time to access training for frontline workers; the need for strategic and long term workforce planning; improved leadership and change management skills; addressing professional tensions when implementing new roles; developing attainable career pathways for new and existing workers; enhancing the public perception, understanding and community awareness of new job roles; developing a strong value proposition for workforce development activities; better return on training investment evidence and approaches; realisation of workforce plans/strategies in sectors e.g. disability, mental health, homelessness and family relationships.

Published abstract from Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council website.

Participation in the [Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council] CS&H ISC Environmental Scan 2011 included submissions, interviews and meetings with key stakeholders and partner events with state/territory industry advisory bodies around the country. Feedback has confirmed themes identified in 2010 with emphasis on demographic changes influencing new service approaches and the need for new roles and skills to meet demands. The community services and health industries continue to grow with an annual surge in workforce numbers of 8.6 per cent based on November 2010 ...  [+] Show more