Metropolitan South HACC Workforce Project

Dear TDN members
I received this information on this new project. If you are interested you can contact Glen

"This is the first of a series of information sheets that will keep HACC service providers and community care stakeholders updated on the progress of the Metropolitan South HACC Workforce Project. The project has been funded by the Metropolitan South Region of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Human Services and is being administered by the Bankstown Area Multicultural Network (BAMN). It will be conducted between late 2009 and the end of June 2010.

This is separate yet linked project to the statewide HACC Workforce Project currently underway. The statewide project focuses on research, collecting information from agencies, volunteers and paid staff about the composition of the workforce and its current staff recruitment and retention challenges. The Metropolitan South project will use the research findings of the statewide project and consultation advice from local stakeholders to strengthen workforce development and support capacity in the Met South ADHC Region.

Project Aims and Objectives

The overall aim of the Metropolitan South HACC Workforce Project is to implement cost effective and efficient recruitment and retention strategies for paid workers.

The specific objectives of the project are to:

• review local and other research that can be used as an evidence base and a building block for effective workforce development and support initiatives and strategies
• analyse the potential to establish recruitment and professional development strategies with the vocational education and training (VET) sector
• identify innovative models and notional costs of regional HACC sector recruitment strategies
• produce some form of local resource for on-going use.

Project Tasks

Late 2009 and early 2010

The focus in this part of the project will be on gathering all available information on the HACC paid workforce and its challenges and the opportunities that may be available in Met South through the VET and employment services sectors. During this time, the Project Team will:

• analyse Met South HACC workforce data from the statewide project, identifying local trends and challenges across and within the three Local Planning Areas (Inner West, South East Sydney and South West Sydney)
• meet with all the HACC Development Workers and other key HACC stakeholders and develop a picture of local workforce challenges and initiatives
• talk with local VET providers and employment services with which the HACC sector has or could have mutually beneficial working relationships
• combine this information and identify a range of resource options and possible initiatives that could be implemented later in the project.

February and March 2010

The focus in this part of the project will be on consultation with service providers in Met South to determine what workforce development resources and initiatives will be of most value to the HACC sector. During this time, the Project Team will:

• meet with all HACC forums in the Met South region to outline research findings and workshop ideas for workforce development resources and initiatives
• meet again with relevant VET providers and employment services to explore further collaboration initiatives
• confirm project priorities and directions with the Project’s Steering and Advisory Committees.

April to End June 2010

The focus of this part of the project will be on the development of an agreed resource or resources to support on-going HACC workforce development in Met South. The word ‘resource’ here is used in its broadest sense. It could include materials or processes to assist in recruiting, orientating, training or supporting paid staff.

How You Can Help

Agencies with a stake in recruiting and retaining a skilled and dynamic HACC paid workforce can assist by:
• encouraging staff to participate in the upcoming statewide survey of the HACC paid workforce in early 2010
• informing the Project Team of any relevant local or agency workforce recruitment and retention research, collaborations, projects, initiatives or strategies
• meeting with the Project Team to identify potential opportunities for collaboration
• participating actively in the first HACC forums of the year which will greatly influence the agreed path forward
• participating in any trials of resources in mid 2010.

Contact the Project Team

Suggestions, information and feedback can be send to the Project Team indirectly through the HACC Development Officers or directly by contacting Glen Sorensen, Age Communications, PO Box 1231, Bondi Junction, NSW 1355, Phone: 9369 5542.