Workforce and Skills Development News

April 2023

Future-proof your workforce: The importance of workforce planning for health businesses

Do you want to ensure that your health business has the right staff with the right skills to meet current and future needs? Are you looking for ways to stay competitive and achieve your organisational goals in the ever-changing health industry?  

Workforce planning is essential for health businesses to meet current and future staffing needs, remain competitive, and achieve organisational goals. By analysing their business needs, assessing the current workforce, and forecasting future workforce needs, health businesses can develop a comprehensive workforce plan that aligns with their strategic objectives.  

Effective workforce planning can lead to improved patient outcomes, increased productivity, reduced labour costs, and increased employee engagement, resulting in improved organisational performance. Investing in workforce planning is not only essential but also a strategic move to ensure the long-term success of any health business.  

Workforce planning is a hot topic in the health industry, but for small to medium-sized businesses, it can be overwhelming to figure out where to begin. The process of analysing business needs, assessing the current workforce, and predicting future staffing requirements can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be.  

How can CheckUP's Industry Workforce Advisors assist health businesses to develop a health workforce plan?

CheckUP’s Industry Workforce Advisors work directly with health employers to: 

• Create an individual workforce plan which identifies and addresses workforce challenges 
• Access funded HR support/solutions for their business 
• Diversify and support workforce growth 
• Assist in developing recruitment strategies 
• Access accredited and non-accredited industry training 
• Develop plans to assist with workforce attraction and retention  
• Connect with relevant programs and funding, industry-based initiatives and grant funding, and Australian Government wage subsidies and employer incentives. 

Engaging with our Industry Workforce Advisors starts with completing an Expression of Interest. Once you complete an EOI one of our Industry Workforce Advisors will contact you to arrange a time to meet and start the workforce planning process at your convenience. 

CheckUP has been contracted by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) to deliver this initiative for the health industry.

What does workforce planning involve?

Industry Workforce Advisors can guide health businesses through each stage of the workforce planning process. From defining strategic goals and identifying workforce gaps to implementing and monitoring the workforce plan, our team can provide support and expertise at every step.

By engaging with our Industry Workforce Advisors businesses can streamline the workforce planning process and ensure that they have the right people with the right skills to achieve their goals. So, whether you are just getting started or need assistance with a specific aspect of workforce planning, our Industry Workforce Advisors are here to help. 

Industry Workforce Advisors will work alongside and guide businesses through four key phases: 

1. Get started 

• Define the business's strategic goals and objectives. 
• Identify the key drivers of change in the industry. 
• Determine how the workforce plan will contribute to the business's overall success. 

2. Gather information 

• Conduct a workforce analysis to determine current staffing levels, skills, and competencies. 
• Review trends and data to forecast future staffing needs. 
• Identify any workforce risks or gaps that may impact the business's ability to achieve its objectives. 

3. Identify issues and find solutions 

• Analyse workforce data to identify areas of improvement. 
• Prioritise issues based on the business's strategic goals and objectives. 
• Develop solutions to address workforce gaps, such as training and development programs, recruitment strategies, and retention plans. 

4. Develop, implement, and monitor 

• Develop a comprehensive workforce plan that includes actionable steps and measurable goals. 
• Implement the workforce plan, taking into account any budget or resource constraints. 
• Monitor progress towards achieving the workforce plan's goals, and regularly revisit the plan to ensure it remains relevant to the business's needs. 

To speak directly to an Industry Workforce Advisor you can contact them on the details listed below. 

• First Nations Industry Workforce Advisor (Health Care and Social Assistance) Andrew Legg, alegg@checkup.org.au, 0498 801 004. 
• Health Industry Workforce Advisor, Vicky Meyer vmeyer@checkup.org.au, 0436 814 501. 

More information about the Industry Workforce Advisor program is available on our website.

Priority Skills List - Feedback opportunity

The Priority Skills List identifies the qualifications and skill sets that attract a government subsidy under the VET investment budget. The Priority Skills List outlines the subsidies available for delivery of: 

• foundation skills courses and lower-level vocational qualifications, which are funded to support the Certificate 3 Guarantee qualifications 
• Certificate 3 Guarantee qualifications 
• qualifications available for VET in Schools (VETiS) 
• qualifications available for Fee Free TAFE – view the high priority qualifications 
• qualifications and skill sets within the Higher Level Skills Program (AQF Level IV and higher). 

CheckUP is engaged by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training as the Industry Skills Advisor (ISA) for Health. As the ISA for Health CheckUP engages with employers, small business and industry stakeholders to provide high-quality, evidence-based industry advice and intelligence about current and emerging industry directions, regional skill needs, training solutions and employment opportunities.

The ISA is an important role for CheckUP and the health industry as it provides opportunities for us to engage with our stakeholders to identify training and skills priorities and inform investment settings for the health industry.  

If you have any questions or would like to provide feedback to the Health Industry Skills Advisor on the Priority Skills List please contact Amanda Griffiths, Health Industry Skills Advisor at agriffiths@checkup.org.au or 0499 199 571.

More information about the Health ISA program is available on the CheckUP website.

ANZSCO comprehensive review

The ABS is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) to reflect the contemporary labour market and better meet stakeholders’ needs. 

ANZSCO describes all occupations in the Australian and New Zealand labour markets and is used to inform and shape educational pathways, skilled migration programs and workforce strategies that equip Australians with skills to get jobs and stay employed. 

Public consultation rounds will be held across 2023 and 2024 with each round targeting selected occupations grouped by focus area. The ABS will be inviting submissions on these focus areas through the ABS Consultation Hub. The consultation schedule provides information on how to participate.

Round 1 consultation from 1 February to 28 April 2023) includes: 

• Aged care and disability services 
• Welfare and social assistance 
• Childcare services.

Round 2 consultation will open on 15 June – 6 September 2023.  This round will include: 

• Medical, nursing and other health care services. 

If you have any questions or wish to discuss further, please contact Amanda Griffiths, Health Industry Skills Advisor at agriffiths@checkup.org.au or 0499 199 571. 

Gateway to Industry Schools Program - Health

Become an industry partner and grow your own workforce!

Interested in growing your own workforce? Did you know that your future workforce is in high school right now? With over 50 schools across Queensland involved in the Gateway to Industry Schools Program – Health (Health Gateway Program), CheckUP can connect you with students who are currently undertaking health qualifications and who are keen to enter the health workforce!

The Health Gateway Program builds partnerships between schools and the health industry to enable young people to acquire the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to contribute effectively to the future health workforce in Queensland. It also provides opportunities for the health industry and the education sector to work together to deliver outcomes for students, local communities and health services.

The CheckUP team can create linkages between local industry and relevant schools to identify suitable candidates for work placement, school-based traineeships and more.  

If you are interested in becoming an Industry Partner and making connections with your future workforce please email gateway@checkup.org.au. 

Funding opportunities

Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development Grant - Closes 4 May 2023

The Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development Grant (IWSDG) program funds Indigenous designed and led projects that support or respond to local training and workforce needs. 

The IWSDG program recognises that skills and training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will be more successful when solutions are designed and developed locally and supported by the community. The program aims to create training and employment pathways for up to 800 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to increase their likelihood of greater economic and social participation.

Micro-credentialing Program - Closes 11 May 2023

The Micro-credentialing Program provides an opportunity to support changing workplaces by enabling the provision of focused training for new or transitioning employees in specific skills. This will support businesses and industries to adopt innovations and improve productivity. 

Successful applicants for the 2023 Program will receive up to $250,000 to design, develop and deliver 1 or more micro-credentials aligned to specific industry skill gaps. The skill outcomes targeted for the program will not be nationally recognised (i.e., vocational education and training (VET)), as these outcomes can be supported under existing VET investment programs. 

The funding is now open and will close at 5pm on Thursday 11 May 2023.

Growing Workforce Participation Fund - Closes 29 May 2023

The Growing Workforce Participation Fund (the Fund) is one component of the suite of programs delivered under the Queensland Government's revitalised Back to Work initiative, which is designed to give businesses the confidence to employ Queenslanders who have experienced a period of unemployment and help workers facing disadvantage in the labour market.  

The second round of the Fund is now open and will close at 5pm on Monday 29 May 2023. Industry organisations funded to deliver projects under this Fund have a maximum of 12 months to complete a project.

Professional development, resources and connections

Workforce Collaboration Hub

Do you have a great story to tell about how you found, trained and kept the right workers? The Queensland Government’s Workforce Collaboration Hub provides a platform for employers to share their stories, ideas and tips to help benefit employers. 

Grow Your Own Workforce Resource Hub

It is widely acknowledged that strategic workforce planning and development will be a key enabler as Queensland’s health sector works towards building the foundations necessary to effectively deliver services that meet the health needs of all Queenslanders.  

Designed to be a one-stop shop, the Grow Your Own Workforce website includes practical workforce planning tools, Grow Your Own (GYO) guides, information about funding for recruitment and training, useful contacts and good practice case studies. 

GYO is a term used to describe a place-based workforce model that focuses on attracting, developing, supporting and retaining local residents, at any level and in any discipline, in an effort to create a sustainable pipeline of workers. It essentially involves two separate but complementary approaches, namely an outside-in and an inside-up approach.

Recommended resources and subscriptions for small to medium health businesses

• Queensland Small Business Commissioner Newsletter  
• Business.gov.au Newsletter   
• Small Business Showcase - Fair Work Ombudsman    
• Business readiness health check | Business Queensland 
• Business health check | Business Queensland 
• Digital health check | Business Queensland 
• Business Wellness Coaching • Small Business Financial Counselling Service (SBFCS) Southern Queensland (sbfcssq.org.au) 
• Mentoring for Growth program | Business Queensland 
• Marketing health check | Business Queensland 

Stay connected

As we are continuing to grow our network connections and improve our targeted engagement strategies, we would appreciate if you could advise personnel within your organisation that should be included in these e-blasts to subscribe to our newsletter list. 

More information about CheckUP's workforce programs is available on our website. You can reach out to the key contacts for these programs directly using the details below. 

• Vicky Meyer, Industry Workforce Advisor - Health, vmeyer@checkup.org.au 
• Andrew Legg, Industry Workforce Advisor - First Nations Health Care and Social Assistance, alegg@checkup.org.au 
• Amanda Griffiths, Health Industry Skills Advisor, agriffiths@checkup.org.au 
• Sabrina Kerr, Health Gateway Program Manager, sabrinakerr@checkup.org.au 

CheckUP acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.