Workforce Projects
NEW for 2012 Workforce Planning and Development Conference Talks (C) and Workshop (W) Topics
Looking for relevant and practical professional development and engaging conference presenters? Any of these NEW topics interest you?
- A Broader View of Client Workforce Development
- An Introduction to Innovative Workforce Management
- Building Competency Frameworks to Measure Workforce Capability
- Developing a Workforce Plan in 5 Easy Steps
- Engaging Employers, Stakeholders and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises
- Future Service Provision
- Give Your Organisation a Health Check or Give your charity a business check
- How to Develop a Skills Profile
- Organisational Development – what every CEO, HR and VET professional must know
- Regional Workforce Planning
- Training Needs Analysis
- Work Life Balance – An Introduction
- Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) Extreme Make-over
- Teleworking and Working at Home
- What’s in your Innovation Toolkit?
- Workforce Development and Planning in Practice
NB. Check out the info on customisation
Supporting tools and resources including:
- NBN Enabled Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) – Assess Your Capability; and
- Workforce Planner Self-evaluation
Interested? YES, then read about the details of the topics, send an email to wendy@workforceplanningtools.com.au with your pick and mix list or specific focus area and we’ll come back to discuss what you want, a brief proposal and possible dates. Thank you!
PS. join the Workforce Planning Tools LinkedIn Group for links, tips and hints.
National Workforce Development Fund, Skills Australia, NCVER, Skills for All, news, views, blogs
National Workforce Development Fund - On Wednesday 10 August 2011, the National Workforce Development Fund (NWDF) opened with $558 million for 2011-12 to 2014-15 and the due date for applications is 12 noon 30 September 2011*…
Putting skills at the heart of the economy - Anticipated by leaders in skills and workforce development and coming at a crucial time, the Putting skills at the heart of the economy 2011 conference held on 21 July 2011 at The Crown Conference Centre, Melbourne, was very well attended with a great line up of speakers…
2011 NCVER No Frills Conference - I haven’t missed many NCVER conferences over the years and I’m glad that I attended the 20th No Frills Conference in Coffs Harbour this week as it gave me an opportunity to take some time out to think of new initiatives and identify ideas to explore with others…
Skills for Prosperity and the 2011 Federal Budget – On the 3rd May 2011, Skills Australia launched their most significant paper to date on workforce development titled Skills for Prosperity A roadmap for Vocational Education and Training…
Evidence based approach to workforce and client demand - Increasingly you are being asked to provide evidence of demand for jobs and skills that are linked to your contracts, funding and proposals as well as your programs and services, and that reach specific outcomes and targets…
Skills for All and Opportunities for You - Skills for All, the Strategic Direction for Vocational Education and Training in South Australia 2011-2014 has been published and was great weekend reading with the pink highlighter pen out…
Congratulations to:
Skillsbook website providers a home for credentials – use Skillsbook to build skills profiles for RPL, profile job roles, undertake Training Needs Analysis and build competency frameworks. Download Skillsbook for iphone too.
RDNS Education Centre for being shortlisted for small training provider of the year at the South Australian Training Awards – see you on the night, 2nd September 2011 at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
National Crime Check – new website launched where you can submit your police check online.
Australian VET Leaders – potential, emerging and current Join the 400 strong members of this LinkedIn community discussing VET issues and opportunities. Are you an Australian VET Leader?
Training Needs Analysis Workshops Recently Service Skills Australia presented a professional development opportunity ideal for practitioners facilitating internal Training Needs Analysis (TNA), working with teams, enterprises and organisations, up to major projects such as large sporting complexes, around Australia. Workforce BluePrint was contracted to facilitate the workshops and Wendy Perry and we received feedback like,
Thank you for the material from the recent workshop on TNA. It is most help full and appreciated. Can I say that I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation and as it gave me a better insight into the value of TNA and its execution.
Here are all the comments from participants.
SMART Business Association The SMART Business Association website is being designed and it will be the site to be on if you run a business in Southern Adelaide or do business in the South – all with searchable categories and extras to help you to grow your business and local market. Get a listing as part of your membership for only $50, email Garry Triffett for your membership form.
Latest Presentations and Workshops Workshops, conferences, professional development activities on leading edge topics. Bookings are currently being taken into 2012 – get in quickly with your preferred dates!
Customer Friendly Flying and Travel in Australia
Queen’s birthday long weekend in Rockhampton
Hobby blogging as featured in SA Defence Business Magazine
Think Food – Think Consistency, Quality and Trust as featured for in business magazine
Barossa Valley – can we have it all plus a mini break?
Lazy Ballerina, K1, Three Brothers Arms, Longview and Royal Oak
Succeeding in your first full time job
What have we been up to?
- Development of workforce plans and competency frameworks for various clients across Australia in the Agriculture, Banking and Finance, Building and Construction, Civil Construction, Community Services, Contact Centre, Defence, Disability, Education, Employment Services, Energy, Events, Food and Wine, Government, Health, Higher Education, Manufacturing, Mining and Resources, Telecommunications, Tourism, Vocational Education and Training (VET), and Water sectors
- Consultant for the design and development of Ergon Energy’s Capability Framework, 2011
- Project management of the South Australian Contact Centre Survey for ATA and the Department of Trade and Economic Development, 2011
- Project management of the WorkLife Balance Innovations Project for SafeWork SA including facilitation of Masterclasses, 2011
- Facilitation of the Women influencing Defence and Resources Industries (WiDRI) Community of Practice, 2011
- Recognition of Prior Learning Project for Regional Development Australia, Kangaroo Island, June 2011
- Skills Australia information session, May 2011
- DFEEST SA Works Strategic Planning Workshop, May 2011
- Defence Teaming Centre networking, May 2011
- Workforce development and planning workshop for small-medium sized enterprises (SMEs), Sunraysia Institute of TAFE, Mildura, May 2011
- ACPET and WEA networking event, May 2011
- Workforce plan for South West TAFE in Victoria, May 2011
- South Australian Skills and Workforce Forum, April 2011
- Women influencing Defence and Resource Industries (WiDRI) Community of Practice launch, April 2011
- Women in Leadership, CEDA luncheon, April 2011
- Can we have it all? Regional Development Australia, Barossa Valley, April 2011
- SMART Friday Night drinks at the Vic, March 2011
- Think Food, Food SA, March 2011
- Work Life Balance Masterclass and Tools project, March 2011
- Workforce planning for service success, Jobs Australia, March 2011 and May 2011
- Cellar Door Wine Festival, February 2011
- RPL system design, February 2011
- SMART business breakfast, February 2011
- Workforce planning for local government, Queanbeyan Local Government Association NSW, February 2011
- Development a regional workforce plans and client analysis for Job Service Australia and Disability Employment Service providers, 2011
- Regional workforce plan for the Mid North and Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, January 2011
- Australia Day mini break at Port Elliot, January 2011
- Tour Down Under, Willunga stage finish, January 2011
- Business and workforce profile for Kangaroo Island, January 2011
Contact us…
The very best way to contact us is via 1. email wendy@workforceblueprint.com.au , 2 text 0416 150 491, 3. Call 0416 150 491, 4. call our office number 08 8387 9800, 5. fax 08 8387 9820.
If you do not wish to receive copies of our enews please send an email to wendy@workforceblueprint.com.au with “Thanks but no thanks” in the subject line – we’ll understand.
National Workforce Development Fund
On Wednesday 10 August 2011, the National Workforce Development Fund (NWDF) opened with $558 million for 2011-12 to 2014-15 and the due date for applications is 12 noon 30 September 2011*. $148 million is available during 2011-12 which is made up of $73 million under this NWDF and $74 million under existing arrangements for the Critical Skills Investment Fund.
As the new Workforce Productivity Agency isn’t yet established (from 1 July 2012), DEEWR is managing the NWDF for this financial year using a model based upon the Enterprise Based Productivity Places Program with applications through the Industry Skills Councils.
Partnering Organsiations (POs) including enterprises, professional associations, industry bodies, lead agents for a consortia and employment service providers can apply (not Registered Training Organisations but as least 1 RTO must be involved). The partnership for an application must involved 1 or more POs, RTO/s and an Industry Skills Council (ISC).
“A key element of the Fund is to encourage organisations to undertake workforce planning and skills needs analysis to develop training solutions that align with business goals.” Workforce BluePrint is working with RTOs from around Australia in developing their skills and capability in workforce development and planning, RPL and Training Needs Analysis. Read comments and feedback from participants in our programs, workshops and projects. Use tools and templates to help you to develop your own workforce plan and for your clients.
Aged care ($25 million) and construction sectors ($25 million) are priorities linked to the mining boom, roll out of the National Broadband Network and housing demand. There is direct link with the Cleaner Energy Future Plan as, “funding will also be allocated for projects that enhance workers’ energy efficiency skills and develop skills which support the use of low emissions technology or support the development of clean energy skills in the construction sector and across all sectors”, up to $10 million.
Proposals need to be submitted to Industry Skills Councils with most ISC’s asking for applications by late August – mid September 2011*. ISC’s will call for proposals, convene an Assessment Panel with DEEWR to identify priorities for funding against the Assessment Criteria, submit applications to DEEWR, maintain contact with applicants, monitor the partnership arrangements, receive $$ and disperse funds, collect data and undertake reporting.
Training through the Fund must be for an Eligble Qualification, for new workers Certificate II-Vocational Graduate Diploma and existing workers Certificate III-Vocational Graduate Diploma. Qualifications eligible for funding are mapped to the Priority Occupation List (POL – available soon) with each ISC together with DEEWR outlining priority areas.
“RTOs delivering under the Fund must offer Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)…for each participant in the program.”
Have you got a partnership with the relevant Industry Skills Councils? Follow the links below to take you to specific pages on the National Workforce Development Fund applications:
Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council
Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council
Manufacturing Skills Australia
Service Skills Australia and say hi to Bernard Moore in the video
Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council
Interested in assistance to develop a Workforce Plan, undertake a Training Needs Analysis or build your capability in workforce development and planning? Get in touch with our Head Workforce Planner, Wendy Perry via wendy@workforceblueprint.com.au .
Evidence based approach to workforce and client demand
Increasingly you are being asked to provide evidence of demand for jobs and skills that are linked to your contracts, funding and proposals as well as your programs and services, and that reach specific outcomes and targets.
So how do you,
- Make sense of the data on business and industry (I), major projects and regional trends?
- Analyse demographics (D) information?
- Know who you should partner (P) with?
- Examine your client (C) profile?
AND
Marry all 4 areas to identify opportunities for new products and services, develop engagement and support strategies, and provide crucial evidence demonstrating how you can meet demand now and into the future?
Workforce BluePrint has developed a methodology and a process to help you quickly and simply understand the industry (I), demographics (D), partners (P) and your client (C) profile resulting in engagement (E), and support (S) strategies, this is what is looks like:
A skills profile (SP) that details foundation skills, transferable skills and industry specific skills plus a competitor analysis (CA) are options you may want to include.
Methodology
- Action research and collection of data for the specified regions, Local Government Areas (LGA’s) or Employment Service Areas (ESA’s)from a range of national, state/territory, local, major projects, regional and industry sources covering industry workforce demand and social demographics
- Analysis of your client profile for the location/s
- Comparison of industry workforce demand profile and social demographics with your client profile
- Identification of themes in the data and validation of analysis with team members working across the specific locations to value add with local intelligence
- Partnership map development with local team members
- Option of skills profile and/or competitor analysis
- Development of an action plan with priorities, engagement and support strategies and validation by team members
- Documentation of the whole process so it is repeatable and can be used across your organisation and at other locations/regions.
Outputs per region or location may include:
- Industry and business workforce profile
- Social demographics
- Partnership map
- Client profile
- Skills profile
- Competitor analysis
- Report and action plan
Get the evidence you need for your business case, tender submission, funding allocations, new program or workforce plan.
Send an email to wendy@workforceblueprint.com.au with the various components that you are interested in – I, D, P, C, SP and/or CA.
Workforce profiling for an island or region
Identifying current skills needs by employers in existing employees and their future workforce and profiling the workforce for an island or a region enables better informed decision making and longer term workforce development strategies.
Analysing the results can provide regional and industry development agencies, local networks, government and funding bodies with insight into strengths vs sustainability, community assets and common development needs.
Collect information and data such as numbers employed by industry, age profile, gender, employment status, skill level, advertised vacancies by month, job type, location, skill level and industry.
Ask business owners about their workforce issues and challenges, the skills needs for their employees and themselves and aggregate the results with the most common development needs.
Design a skills profile that includes foundation skills, transferable skills and job specific skills and map to units of competency from National Training Packages with Skillsbook to make formal recognition and the purchase of training and assessment services easier.
Validate the data analysis, skills profile and dig a bit deeper with businesses to understand what is really casing them problems and what solutions could work.
Summarise the results and trends making recommendations that can be implemented by local people with an action plan.
Publish the report, present the information to all stakeholders including the businesses in the survey, follow through with the actions and keep the action plan as a standing item for the local network with projects and funding built from it.
Move towards a workforce plan for the island or region and for each of the organisations by helping them assess the health of their business, provide support, information, education and mentoring. Work with the businesses on immediate human resource management issues, strategic planning and chat quickly then do.
Workforce Development funding
So where to look for funding opportunities to support your workforce development project or training of your staff? Here’s a couple of sites and links you might find useful with programs funded by the Australian Government:
Critical Skills Investment Fund
Clean Sustainable Skills Package
Teaching and Learning Capital Fund
Workplace English Language and Literacy Program
Industry Training Strategies Program
Applications for Training Grants
Family Centred Employment Project
Social Enterprise Development and Investment Fund
IBSA supporting Workforce Development
Ausindustry Programs and Grants
Enterprise Connect Services and Grants
Post your links of funds and grants you know of and look out for a new blog post with state and territory specific funding information soon.
Clever Brainstorming Techniques
I’m always looking for innovative ways to think up new projects; about problems and answers; and to understand workforce issues and opportunities.
Recently I came across Speed Thinking by Ken Hudson which has 4 steps:
1. Start – brainstorm 9 ideas in 2 minutes (individually or in a group)
2. Evaluate – in 2 minutes pick the best idea in 2 minutes
3. Build – make this 1 idea 9 times better in 2 minutes
4. Action – identify 9 action steps in 2 minutes
Blue Ocean Strategy by W Chan Kim & Renee Mawborgne 2005 aims to create value innovation with their 4 actions framework:
- Reduce - Which factors should be reduced?
- Create - Which factors should be created?
- Raise – Which factors should be raised?
- Eliminate - Which of the factors should be eliminated?
Think Better by Tim Hurson says productive thinking in action starts with:
- What’s the itch?
-What’s the impact?
-What’s the information
– What do you know and wonder?
-Who’s involved?
-What the vision?
Thinking differently doesn’t often come naturally and using these techniques moves you away from looking at things in the same old way.