What's Happening at ACS

ACS WORKFORCE COMMITTEE 2009/2010

ADVOCACY

Provided industry comment on:

  • ACS & ACSA Award modernisation
  • ACSA Information about Skilled Migration Programs
  • ACAA Funding proposal for Clinical Leadership Training
  • ACS Vision Document
  • Safer Industries Committee Harmonisation of OHSW Act
  • ACS Professional Registration of Aged and Community Care Workers
  • New WorkCover SA Employer Incentive Scheme
  • SA Skills Board CALD Round Table

Represent SA & NT on ACSA National Workforce Committee

COLLABORATIONS

SA Health & Community Services Skills Board         VET in SACE Seminar Project
SA Health & Community Services Skills Board         CALD Transition to Work Project

RESEARCH

Skill Shortage Survey
Middle Managers Workload Survey

PRESENTATIONS

Members of the Workforce Committee have delivered the following presentations:

  • Western Linkages – OHS Guidelines for Community Workers
  • ANF Aged Care Providers – Vocational Placement Agreement Trial & Best Practice Guidelines
  • DEFEEST Training Providers Forum – RTO Engagement Project
  • OHSW Seminars in the SE – Bariatric Management Systems, Guidelines for Managing Grief and Loss in Aged & Community Care Sector & Mature Workers Workshop


PROJECTS COMPLETED IN 2009

Workforce Committee managed $144,000 in grants for the following projects:

  • HACC funded Workforce Resources launched 22 April 2009 Working and Learning in Aged & Community Care and Taking Care of Workforce Business
  • Employers Mutual Ltd funded revision of SafeWork SA Resource launched 27 May 2009 OHSW Guidelines for Community Workers
  • ACS funded Portable Career Display
  • Employers Mutual Ltd OHSW Seminars in South East 23 November 2009 Mt Gambier (43 registrations), 24 November Naracoorte (20 registrations)

CURRENT PROJECTS       

RTO Engagement Project

Purpose

Improve the learning and employment outcomes for students and graduates bringing industry together with training providers to address identified issues.

Outcomes to date

  • Forum for industry and training providers
  • Development and trial of a model Vocational Placement Agreement (VPA)
  • Development of Best Practice Guidelines for Vocational Placement (to be launched March/April)

Identified issues for future consideration:

  • Improve transition to work for those with cultural and linguistic barriers – participating in SA Health & Community Services project
  • Improving the selection of quality students/graduates
  • Course quality, relevance and length

Sustaining Mature Workers Project

Purpose

Improve recruitment and retention of mature workers in aged and community care sector.

Proposed Outcomes

  • Development of an industry specific guide listing strategies which support mature workers, reduce risk of injuries and improve return to work outcomes (received seeding funds from Employers Mutual Ltd to develop proposal into a Business Plan).
  • Develop recruitment strategies targeting mature workers.
  • Develop information to Employers about the benefits of employing mature workers with practical ideas about how to support them.

School Engagement Project

Purpose

Facilitate better awareness and uptake of careers in aged & community care amongst school students/graduates.

Proposed Outcomes

  • Conduct Forum for school Career Advisors, Job Brokers to inform about employment opportunities in aged & community care sector.
  • Conduct Forum for school students and parents to inform about careers in sector.
  • Promote school –based apprenticeships.
  • Promote careers in aged & community care at career expos and events.

Middle Managers Project

Purpose

Improve the retention rate of middle managers by identifying strategies and supports that address identified issues and improve job satisfaction.

Strategies

  • Conduct survey with middle managers to better understand work related pressures which affect their job satisfaction. (completed 2009)
  • Document findings from survey into a report. (completed 2009)
  • Present findings from the survey to CEOs, and senior managers to build awareness of issues and to discuss the best way to address them.
  • Outline actions/strategies needed to address identified issues for Government, industry and other stakeholders.

WORKFORCE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Michael Bailey                         Clayton Church Homes                      Chair
Anthea Daly                             Life Care Churches of Christ              Vice-Chair
Dennis Chamberlain               James Brown Trust                            ACS Board Rep
Michael Blake                          ECH Inc          
Julie Goods                             Helping Hand Aged Care Inc
Despo Itsines                          Resthaven Inc
Sue Ostojic                             Southern Cross Care (SA) Inc
Chris Racar                            Eldercare Inc
Sharon Somerville                  Guide Dogs SA & NT
Carol Mohan                            ACS SA & NT Inc                                Ex-officio