Overview

Workforce development is a growing and critical area of activity for the sector and the development of a state wide sector development strategy, that includes a comprehensive workforce development strategy, is a key priority of NCOSS over the next couple of years.

Recent initiatives, reports and papers on workforce development will be posted to this site as they become available.

For further details and comments please contact:

Catherine Mahony
Deputy Director, Sector Development
phone: 92112599 ext 110
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Resources

• Models of Workforce Development : Paper 1
  This paper provides a selection of models and approaches to workforce development that are of relevance to NSW non government community sector (the sector). The intention is to provide a brief summary of existing options to assist us in developing a preferred model for the development of a workforce development strategy for our sector. An essential bibliography on workforce development research and initiatives is also included in this paper.

Research

• Skills Growth or Skills Atrophy - What are the preconditions?
  Recent research from the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council identifies seven primary preconditions for the development of a skilled community services workforce; the first of which is the funding model. The report asserts that a low cost funding environment undermines the potential for training growth.
  • Download: Executive Summary: “Identifying paths to skills growth or skill recession: Decisions for workforce development in the community services and health industries”
  • website: www.cshisc.com.au
• Community Services Training Needs In Rural and Remote NSW [August 2007]
  The NSW Community Service and Health Industry Training Advisory Body (CSITAB) recently conducted research across the community services sectors in rural and remote NSW. This research brings together workforce training needs and provides a detailed picture of the learning and training requirements of the sector in non- metropolitan areas of the state.
• Recruitment and Retention in the Community Sector : A snapshot of current concerns, future trends and workforce strategies.
  This recent paper (2007) from the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) considers the current characteristics and needs of the sector, with a specific focus on the workforce issues.