Training for the Future Launch
Release: 25th March 2008
Esset Australia is pleased to announce the launch of the new Training for the Future initiative across Tasmania.
Training for the Future will initially support learning and development outcomes for up to 180 community sector organisations, covering over 5000 employees and volunteers, funded by the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The organisations include those providing home and community care (HACC), Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) and Community Support Program (CSP) service providers across Tasmania.
The community and health services industry of which these organisations are a part is a growing area of the Tasmanian economy. The industry has a diverse employee base and includes both paid and voluntary workers with a wide variety of backgrounds and skills. Recruitment and retention of staff and board members is a significant issue. A large number of those engaged in the industry are seeking formal qualifications while others are seeking to build upon existing skills.
The training requirements of the community sector and the increasing complexity of clients have led to a need to improve and change the way that training is provided to meet the needs of organisations.
Funded directly by DHHS, the initiative is focused on the delivery of national ly accredited short courses and qualifications to board members, managers, support workers and volunteers within these organisations, as they provide quality care and support to a diverse range of clients.
The initiative also aims to address barriers to training in rural and remote areas in each state, by providing flexible delivery of a range of programs on site in service provider facilities.
Mr Phill Bevan, Managing Director of Esset Australia, describes the initiative as "further targeted support and skill development programs for community sector workers in our communities to access training and skill development opportunities they would not otherwise be able to do. The strong workforce development approach to this project is innovative in design and aspirational in seeking stong outcomes for all workers and the organisations in which they operate."
"Barriers to participation in training by community sector workers that have been identified through previous projects include a lack of confidence to study, the cost of training, time to study, literacy and numeracy levels, and difficulty accessing training."
Following on from a training needs analysis and training plan development in each community sector organisation, it is expected that at least two thousand training places will be provided in the next three years from DHHS funded programs alone, allowing a strong response and support framework to be implemented to address training needs identified.
For further information, contact:
Esset Australia
Lesley Blefari
Project Manager
Ph: 1300 558 936
lblefari@esset.com.au
Esset Australia delivers courses and qualifications across all Australian states & territories, utilising the latest in distance, blended learning and e-learning strategies to ensure participants are supported through their program and achieve a high educational outcome.
In addition to holding full Australian government registration and accreditation for national courses, Esset Australia also holds ISO 9001:2000 International Quality Assurance certification, demonstrating the organisation's commitment to the highest standards in education provision and client satisfaction.
Esset Australia's industry focused provision of skill development programs has led to numerous state and national industry accreditations, including the Records Management Association of Australasia (RMAA), Festivals and Events Association, Liquor Licensing Tasmania and Victoria and the Health Training Solutions initiative in association with AMA Victoria, AMA South Australia, AMA Tasmania and AMA ACT.
Other recent media releases are available at: www.esset.com.au/media.htm