Grace Leota who is the Director of Affirm - Organizational Development and Training
has been interviewed on the Sector Workforce Issues by Miguel Ferrero (MF),
convener of the Training Directions Network. This is a summary of the
conversation.
What has been your career path to your
current job?
·
Direct work – community development and family work in a large
non-government disability service – now known as the Cerebral Palsy Alliance
·
Several years in a coordination and management role at the Cerebral
Palsy Alliance
·
A community development position in local government – Leichhardt
Council
·
A training and development position at CCWT
·
A management role for a new national disability service – the National
Parent Information Project
·
Self employment as a consultant.
Have also been on the Board/Management Committee
of several organisations including the Experiential Education Association and
the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Australasian
Chapter.
What in your opinion are the key
workforce issues faced by the community sector?
These are not in order of importance, priority
etc.:
·
Staff with knowledge and skills in working with people with
complex needs – co-occurring issues e.g. homelessness, mental health issues domestic
·
Staff with knowledge and skills in working in a coordinated way
with other agencies – need for collaborative structures, processes and skills between
non-government services and across government and non-government services
·
The use of technology in service provision e.g. electronic
referrals, social media for service promotion and communication with ‘clients’
– issues: privacy and confidentiality, need for up to date equipment and staff
skills
·
Need for qualifications for work which previously did not require
quals e.g. direct care roles with older people and people with a disability
·
Maintaining volunteers – may be interested in short term ‘work’
which will lead to employment
·
Maintaining staff in the non-government sector when they can
receive higher wages in the government sector (pay change in the future with
pay equity)
·
Maintaining staff if funding is contract based – potentially
project based and short term
·
The increasing ‘statutory’ responsibilities of workers in
non-government agencies e.g. child protection and impact on staff roles,
skills, support, job satisfaction
·
Career pathways for workers – recognition opportunities for
sideways career move
·
Recognising the skills, knowledge and experience that diversity
brings
·
Valuing and using the different skills of different generations of
workers
·
Staff who can balance evidence based practice and innovation and
responsiveness
·
Responding to needs, advocating individual/families and
communities, focusing on social justice and change in an increasing contractual
environment (contractual relationships with funding bodies) - impacts on
service provision and worker satisfaction.
What strategies the sector could
develop to address these issues?
·
Strengthening of peak bodies to:
o
Provide workforce development – accredited and non-accredited
training and development opportunities
o
Resource the sector e.g. with technology and technology skills,
resourcing of local/regional networks, resourcing and supporting collaboration
e.g. local collaborative cross agency structures, secondments/’work experience’
in other agencies
o
Advocate and lobby on behalf of the sector
o
Establish models of service, service standards etc. with the
contribution of ‘service users’ and communities (to ensure they are sector and
community driven not just funding body driven)
·
Participate in and support strong advocacy and social justice organisations
which have an independent voice
·
Support ‘service user’ and community groups and organisations and
build service accountability to them.
What is your advice to the Community
Sector that could be helpful to face these issues?
·
Participate in local and regional networks and foster them as
learning communities/communities of practice
·
Seek funds for peak bodies and local networks for workforce development
·
Establish collaborative structures and processes e.g. local
committees for referrals similar to Family Case Management
·
Participate in broader advocacy organisations/networks
·
Use a variety of processes including on-line to connect with
others, share, learn
·
Support workers to gain qualifications while maintaining high
standards (rigorous) – establish relationships between tertiary educational
institutions, training organisations and practitioners.
