Building a robust, highly trained workforce to meet the needs of South Australia’s child protection sector into the future is the focus of an important plan launched this week.
The Department for Child Protection formulated the Workforce Strategy for the Child Protection and Family Support Sector following an extensive consultation process. That included a sector-wide summit last year and consultation with heads of industry, universities, unions, Child and Family Focus SA, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs).
Skills and training organisations, peak sector bodies, public sector agencies and members of the public also contributed.
The strategy aims to tackle issues such as workforce turnover and retention challenges faced by child protection and family support sector organisations across Australia.
Another target is developing the Aboriginal workforce to support SA’s commitments under Closing the Gap to build the Aboriginal Community-Controlled sector and transform mainstream services so they better support Aboriginal people.
The strategy targets initiatives across three main pillars to gain, train, and retain a skilled and well supported workforce to keep vulnerable children safe, cared for and nurtured.
Gain:
- Position the sector as offering an attractive and rewarding career
- Establish diverse pipelines to bring new staff into the sector
- Targeted recruitment of Aboriginal staff
Train:
- Strengthen the job readiness of new recruits
- Reform approaches to training and development
- Maximise development pathways for Aboriginal staff
Retain:
- Promote transferrable skills and pathways across the sector
- Embed culturally safe and supported practices
- Set foundations for long-term workforce reform
The strategy aligns with South Australia’s commitment to Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021-2031 – First Action Plans.