Post by Banjo on Jun 11, 2015 14:12:29 GMT 7
WorkReady training approach will hinder - not help - people to gain employment, says Minda
Leading South Australian disability services provider, Minda, says the State Government’s proposed WorkReady scheme due to start on 1 July, will not only disadvantage current students but also risks having unprepared workers entering the rapidly-changing disability sector.
Minda CEO Cathy Miller called on the Government to urgently reconsider its implementation approach and change the Subsidised Training List to better encourage fair and open competition across all training providers.
“We are at the point where the State Government is taking active steps to ensure students have little choice but to opt for its own TAFE learning facilities, and in doing so places the future of non-Government training providers – including Minda’s South Australian Learning Centre and its 300 current students - in jeopardy,” Ms Miller said.
“This corralling approach to training does not support the spirit of innovation, knowledge growth and economic outcomes spruiked by the SA Government, and the pre-release of the new training packages indicate a reduction in the range of mental health qualifications, particularly skill sets – which is yet another short-sighted decision that must be reversed as a priority,” she said.
“Many of the jobs in growth sectors of our economy require workers to have skills and capabilities they can only get through further education, and to release so few opportunities for subsidised funding for qualifications in Aged Care, Mental Health and Disability grossly under-estimates the number of South Australians who will need to gain qualifications to enter this industry.”
Ms Miller said greater consultation with the disability sector needed to have occurred prior to the scheme being announced six weeks ago, particularly because service provisions across the health and community services are regarded as the most significant growth areas.
“The recent 2015 E-Scan by Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council found that one in four jobs created between 2013 and 2018 will be in health and community services, which underlines the need to focus on developing the workforce in these critical sectors,” Ms Miller said.
“If the requirement is for our workforce to grow to meet the burgeoning health care needs of our community as they age, live longer and experience dual diagnosis or co-morbidity then these services must be provided by a workforce that is educated and skilled,” she said.
In 2013, the South Australian Learning Centre received a 5-year national re-accreditation from the Australian Skills Quality Authority – the longest period currently available for a Registered Training Organisation and continues to experience unprecedented demand for training programs and skilled workers.
“Minda offers a learning option that has RTO status and an expert team that ensures compliance with the VET Quality Framework, and direct linkage to best-practice employers within the sector – and yet those benefits will be eroded almost overnight under the new WorkReady approach,” Ms Miller said.
“This is a slap in the face of non-Government vocational education and training organisations that have trainers who are highly qualified industry experts and educators in Disability, Aged Care and Mental Health, and seriously disadvantages students that have relied on subsided training to kick-start their career,” she said.
Minda has maintained RTO status since 1998, with the South Australian Learning Centre established as a RTO in 2008 to ensure high quality training services and build capacity, capability and sustainability across the disability, aged care and mental health sectors. The South Australian Learning Centre has also been an accredited provider of the Skills for All program.
“We have seen our reputation grow as a deliverer of nationally recognised training packages and issue nationally accredited qualifications including Certificate III in both Aged Care and Disability, a Certificate IV in Disability and a Diploma of Disability,” Ms Miller said.
“To marginalise non-Government providers in this way is inappropriate and everyone in the community should be outraged,” she said.
“We would welcome the opportunity for greater consultation because effective strategies developed in partnership ship between government, the sector and the community are what is needed to ensure the successful future of the health and community services workforce – and at this point in time they are simply not reflected in the proposed WorkReady approach.”
About Minda
Established in 1898, Minda is the largest non-government disability support organisation in South Australia that assists individuals with intellectual disability to thrive in their local environments as valued members of their communities by offering residential and lifestyle services, employment and respite support.
Leading South Australian disability services provider, Minda, says the State Government’s proposed WorkReady scheme due to start on 1 July, will not only disadvantage current students but also risks having unprepared workers entering the rapidly-changing disability sector.
Minda CEO Cathy Miller called on the Government to urgently reconsider its implementation approach and change the Subsidised Training List to better encourage fair and open competition across all training providers.
“We are at the point where the State Government is taking active steps to ensure students have little choice but to opt for its own TAFE learning facilities, and in doing so places the future of non-Government training providers – including Minda’s South Australian Learning Centre and its 300 current students - in jeopardy,” Ms Miller said.
“This corralling approach to training does not support the spirit of innovation, knowledge growth and economic outcomes spruiked by the SA Government, and the pre-release of the new training packages indicate a reduction in the range of mental health qualifications, particularly skill sets – which is yet another short-sighted decision that must be reversed as a priority,” she said.
“Many of the jobs in growth sectors of our economy require workers to have skills and capabilities they can only get through further education, and to release so few opportunities for subsidised funding for qualifications in Aged Care, Mental Health and Disability grossly under-estimates the number of South Australians who will need to gain qualifications to enter this industry.”
Ms Miller said greater consultation with the disability sector needed to have occurred prior to the scheme being announced six weeks ago, particularly because service provisions across the health and community services are regarded as the most significant growth areas.
“The recent 2015 E-Scan by Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council found that one in four jobs created between 2013 and 2018 will be in health and community services, which underlines the need to focus on developing the workforce in these critical sectors,” Ms Miller said.
“If the requirement is for our workforce to grow to meet the burgeoning health care needs of our community as they age, live longer and experience dual diagnosis or co-morbidity then these services must be provided by a workforce that is educated and skilled,” she said.
In 2013, the South Australian Learning Centre received a 5-year national re-accreditation from the Australian Skills Quality Authority – the longest period currently available for a Registered Training Organisation and continues to experience unprecedented demand for training programs and skilled workers.
“Minda offers a learning option that has RTO status and an expert team that ensures compliance with the VET Quality Framework, and direct linkage to best-practice employers within the sector – and yet those benefits will be eroded almost overnight under the new WorkReady approach,” Ms Miller said.
“This is a slap in the face of non-Government vocational education and training organisations that have trainers who are highly qualified industry experts and educators in Disability, Aged Care and Mental Health, and seriously disadvantages students that have relied on subsided training to kick-start their career,” she said.
Minda has maintained RTO status since 1998, with the South Australian Learning Centre established as a RTO in 2008 to ensure high quality training services and build capacity, capability and sustainability across the disability, aged care and mental health sectors. The South Australian Learning Centre has also been an accredited provider of the Skills for All program.
“We have seen our reputation grow as a deliverer of nationally recognised training packages and issue nationally accredited qualifications including Certificate III in both Aged Care and Disability, a Certificate IV in Disability and a Diploma of Disability,” Ms Miller said.
“To marginalise non-Government providers in this way is inappropriate and everyone in the community should be outraged,” she said.
“We would welcome the opportunity for greater consultation because effective strategies developed in partnership ship between government, the sector and the community are what is needed to ensure the successful future of the health and community services workforce – and at this point in time they are simply not reflected in the proposed WorkReady approach.”
About Minda
Established in 1898, Minda is the largest non-government disability support organisation in South Australia that assists individuals with intellectual disability to thrive in their local environments as valued members of their communities by offering residential and lifestyle services, employment and respite support.