Welcome to the first SA Health and Community Services Skills Board this Edition newsletter.

As we approach the end of one year and the transition to a new one it is useful to reflect back on what has happened and look forward to where we are going. Many changes are taking place with the evolution of the Health and Community Services Skill Council. A new Board is now grappling with the task of bringing the diverse sectors of the industries together and developing strategies to address the workforce issues of skills shortages, low retention rates and caring work which on the whole is not considered very sexy or well paid.

Early in the new year we will be looking forward to setting the structures that will help us to carry out our strategic vision. This will provide many of you with the opportunity to be part of the skills board consultative process and focus on the real workforce issues that are common in your industry.

I wish you all a wonder filled Christmas and a safe New Year celebration.

Ian Heard
Chairperson

Workforce Profiling

A priority for the SA Health & Community Services Skills Board in the New Year will be the development of a workforce profile for the sectors in SA. The aim of the project is to create a resource that will provide up to date industry intelligence that will inform Government Policy and assist industry undertake workforce planning.

The proposed profile will initially “map” the industry sectors both demographically and geographically overlaid with current workforce pressures and trends. Over time as the intelligence base grows the profile will identify “market” and growth factors, develop workforce skills and labour demand profiles, training needs and delivery capacity, technology issues as well as management and leadership requirements.

The Skills Board will be looking for industry participation and consultation will begin in early 2006.

Skills Escalator Webinar

The national Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council hosted a successful webinar discussing the skills escalator concept and other workforce solutions that had been effectively implemented in the UK health system. The event featured the expert opinions of four presenters - Anne McBride, Paula Hyde and Annette Cox from the University of Manchester and Gaye Jackson of the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority. Anna & Paula presented the key findings of an evaluation of a national program to support role redesign. Annette & Gayle concentrated on interim findings of an evaluation of the Skills Escalator approach to skills development in the NHS workforce, including insights into national support required for workforce modernisation.

Representatives from community services and health-related organisations across Australia participated in the dynamic, interactive seminar session. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

“Thanks for the webinar…it was brilliant…I hope there are more of these in the future,” Nick Schubert, VET Sector Liaison Consultant at the SA Department of Health.

An audio file and the PowerPoint presentation of the event are available for purchase for $25.00 inc GST. Order Online, or contact

Rachelle Tulloch, Business Development Manager

Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council Ltd.

Phone 02 9263-3582

Email rachelle.tulloch@cshisc.com.au

Mental Health Care Workforce Development Project

The SA Health & Community Skills Board (SAH&CSSB) has been funded to undertake a major initiative into workforce and skill development to support the reform of mental health services in the non government/non acute care area. The overall aim of the project is to design, establish, implement and evaluate tools to increase the availability of a skilled workforce to meet immediate and future needs of the community.

The SAH&CSSB will examine the workforce development needs in the sector through:

· identifying employment practices and skills development outcomes that will address the needs of the people with mental illness, carers, care providers and employees.

· develop workforce design models that demonstrate best practice in supporting staff attraction and retention that can be adopted by employers across the sector.

· devise customised training and qualifications to up skill existing employees.

· develop resources that promote career development pathways in mental health care.

Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Stephanie Key, said South Australia Works and industry will contribute $424,230 to fund the project. The South Australian government through South Australia Works will provide $198,000 towards the 18 month project

Training Sector Forum 2006

The Department of Further Education, Employment, Science & Technology have announced the 2006 Training Sector Forum – Making Connections Developing our Workforce will be held on 1 & 2 June at the Hilton Adelaide.

A call for Expressions of Interest for presenters and exhibitors close on 17 February 2006. For further information contact Christian Fenech on 08 8226 9437 or complete an on line application at www.training.sa.gov.au/OVETevents .

Making a Difference… 2006

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