Keeping our sector strong Victoria’s workforce plan for the NDIS
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CONTENTS
MINISTER’S FOREWORD 4
BUILDING THE WORKFORCE
OF THE FUTURE 5
OUR PLAN 6
OUR PRIORITIES 7
01 UNDERSTANDING WORKFORCE NEEDS 8
02 SUPPORTING REGIONS TO BE NDIS-READY 10
03 SUPPORTING STAFF THROUGH TRANSITION 12
04 TARGETING QUALITY TRAINING 14
05 ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH
AND EDUCATION 16
06 PROMOTING BEST PRACTICE SUPPORT 18
07 BUILDING ALLIED HEALTH CAPACITY 20
08 PROMOTING THE SECTOR 22
09 MEASURING OUR PROGRESS 24
WHAT’S NEXT? 25
Keeping our sector strong: 3 Victoria’s workforce plan for the NDIS
Minister’s Foreword
At the same time, the introduction of the national scheme is a time of unprecedented change for the sector. Disability workers must be supported to build the capabilities required to thrive in the new NDIS environment.
The sector must also be equipped to change to a more flexible service delivery environment where there are good jobs with fair conditions and better pay.
This plan is about getting our workforce ready for the NDIS and The introduction of the National laying the foundations needed to Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) build the workforce of the future. is a once-in-a-generation opportunity It is supported by a $26 million* investment package that will transform to transform the lives of Victorians the workforce in terms of its size, with disability, and the lives of their composition and capability. families and carers. Most importantly, this plan will make sure Victorians with disability are Victoria has always been a leader supported by a skilled and committed in disability support, but the quality workforce that provides the support of our services is only as good as the they need to pursue their goals and quality of our people. We are incredibly live better lives. grateful to have one of the most highly skilled disability workforces in the country, made up of thousands of caring individuals who work tirelessly to support other people achieve their goals.
As the NDIS rolls out across the state,
Minister Foley MP
there will be a huge opportunity for
Minister for Housing,
the disability sector as demand
Disability and Ageing
grows for high-quality, innovative and personalised support. For the workforce, this means developing skills and working in new ways that challenge workers to reach their potential.
4 *includes $4.88 million provided by the Commonwealth Government’s NDIS Sector Development Fund.
Building the workforce of the future
The National Disability Insurance The NDIS is transforming the disability Scheme (NDIS) is transforming system from rationed, block-funded support to an individualised model the way disability services are that empowers people with disability funded and accessed to ensure to decide what support they receive, all people with disability get the who provides it, and how it is provided. best support possible. For the workforce, this shift will demand new skills and new ways of working, The disability workforce is on the with a focus on active support to frontline of the changes needed facilitate inclusion and independence to deliver this ambitious scheme. for people with disability. The rollout of the NDIS started in The same changes will also affect Victoria on 1 July 2016. By the time the structure of the workforce the scheme is fully operational in 2019, and employment arrangements. the NDIS will support a total of A crucial opportunity for disability 105,000 Victorians. The Victorian service providers will be to deliver Government will invest $2.5 billion flexible and responsive services to per year in the full scheme. clients, while offering attractive jobs, fair conditions and appropriateThis investment and the expanded training and development for staff.choices and opportunities for people with disability under the NDIS will To take advantage of these result in the demand for services opportunities, the NDIS presents a and support increasing significantly. unique opportunity for the workforce. It places the spotlight on disabilityRecent estimates by the National and the crucial role of the workforceDisability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to create better outcomes for peoplepredict that the Victorian disability with disability.workforce will need to grow by approximately 76 per cent to meet The NDIS will give disability workers the projected growth in demand new skills, greater diversity in job roles, over the next three years.1 and the opportunity to do exciting and valued work that has a directAttracting and retaining workers with impact on the lives of others.the right skills, values and attitudes will be crucial to deliver more and better support for people with disability.
- Source: NDIA Victorian Market Position Statement 2016 Keeping our sector strong: 5 Victoria’s workforce plan for the NDIS
Our plan
Keeping our sector strong: Victoria’s The plan is informed by the Victorian workforce plan for the NDIS is Government’s NDIS Implementation Victoria’s plan to build the disability Taskforce and the Victorian Skills workforce of the future: a workforce Commissioner’s NDIS Skills Forum. that is skilled, diverse and dynamic, These groups are the government’s delivering high-quality, innovative key NDIS advisory bodies. They include support to achieve the best possible people with disability and their outcomes for people with disability. advocates, as well as organisations As part of the plan, $26 million will be representing the views of carers, invested in workforce development, the workforce and service providers. training and skills initiatives.
OUR OBJECTIVES
Victoria’s workforce plan for the NDIS has four objectives that will guide our actions for the next three years.
Intelligence Capability
Build intelligence on workforce Build workforce capability trends to inform workforce through quality education planning and provide an and training opportunities evidence base for the future. aimed at developing a high-performing workforce with the knowledge and skills required to thrive
1 2 under the NDIS.
3 4 Supply Innovation
Improve workforce supply Maximise opportunities by increasing the disability for innovation in practice, sector’s capacity to attract and service delivery and workforce retain workers with the right skills models to drive improved and values to meet the growing outcomes for people demand for high-quality, with disability. individualised support across the breadth of participant needs.
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Our priorities
TO ACHIEVE OUR OBJECTIVES, THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT,
WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT,
IS INVESTING $26 MILLION* IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
This funding will assist with the following priorities:
Understanding workforce needs01 Work with the disability sector to build a comprehensive picture of the Victorian disability workforce, training and skill needs, and how the NDIS will affect the workforce over time.
Supporting regions to be NDIS-ready02 Resource Victoria’s communities to develop place-based responses to local workforce challenges and opportunities.
Supporting staff through transition03 Support the current workforce to transition and thrive in the NDIS context with access to relevant training opportunities, information and resources they need to understand what the NDIS means for them.
Targeting quality training04 Undertake a range of projects to ensure quality in the content and delivery of accredited training, and better student outcomes in disability-related courses.
Achieving excellence in research and education05 Funding for the new Future Social Service Institute to drive world-leading education, training and research for the disability and broader social services sector.
Promoting best practice support06 Work with the disability sector and across service systems to promote best practice support for participants with high and complex needs and behaviours of concern.
Building allied health capacity07 Build capacity and capability in the Victorian allied health workforce to meet growing demand for allied health services for people with disability.
Promoting the sector08 Deliver targeted strategies to attract and retain people from a range of backgrounds to careers in the disability sector.
Measuring our progress09 Measure and monitor the impact and effectiveness of the plan to meet our objectives.
- includes $4.88 million provided by the Commonwealth Government’s NDIS Sector Development Fund. 7
01 Understanding workforce needs
The NDIS is reshaping the nature This includes data on workforce supply of work in the disability sector. and demand, demographics, trends in attraction, retention and employment While some of the effects the NDIS arrangements, and education and will have on the workforce can be training outcomes, as well as qualitative predicted, a strong evidence base is research to understand the experience required to understand how the sector of workers during the transition. will change over time. The Victorian Government will also For example, who works in disability work with the disability sector to and is this changing? How is the map training and skill needs across shift to consumer-directed service the workforce, and to articulate the delivery affecting patterns of work core competencies, formal training and employment conditions? Is our and qualification requirements and training system meeting the needs ongoing professional development of the sector and students? needs in the evolving NDIS context.
A lot of information already exists but a more systematic approach is needed.
Victorian Government investment
will provide for a comprehensive data strategy for the NDIS workforce that will inform policy and workforce planning during transition to the NDIS and into the future.
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Investment will provide for a comprehensive data strategy for the NDIS workforce that will inform policy and workforce planning during transition to the NDIS and into the future.
OBJECTIVE: To strengthen understanding of the disability workforce, and its training and skills needs.
ACTIONS:
-
Collect, collate and analyse data on workforce supply and demand, demographics, trends in attraction, retention and employment arrangements, education and training outcomes and workers’ experiences throughout transition to the NDIS
-
Develop a competency map informed by evidence and stakeholders which outlines workers’ training and skills, core competencies and professional development needs for roles within the NDIS context
Keeping our sector strong: 9 Victoria’s workforce plan for the NDIS
02 Supporting regions to be NDIS-ready
Every region faces different Regional NDIS workforce coordinators challenges in implementing will bring stakeholders together the NDIS. (including local and state government, service providers, education and training providers, the NDIA and Victoria’s rural and regional community members) to strengthen communities face particular workforce local networks, identify local priorities, challenges when transitioning to the and develop and implement projects new scheme. that respond to these priorities. These include challenges in recruiting This could include undertaking appropriately qualified staff detailed local workforce planning, (particularly therapists and specialists), trialling new workforce models and managing the workforce and services innovative models of staff supervision across smaller populations and wider and support, fostering partnerships geographic areas, and providing staff between disability service providers supervision and access to professional and local TAFEs and other training development opportunities. organisations, or developing local Recognising the diversity of attraction and retention strategies. communities across Victoria, this plan Consistent with the Victorian delivers resources for local communities Government’s commitment to to drive their own responses to the Victoria’s regions including a new workforce challenges and opportunities regional partnerships model, this plan they may see on the ground. gives local communities the flexibility and autonomy they need to develop local solutions to local needs.
This project is supported by funding from the Commonwealth Government’s Sector Development Fund.
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Regional NDIS workforce
coordinators will bring stakeholders together to strengthen local networks and identify local priorities.
OBJECTIVE: Strengthen local networks, identify local priorities, challenges and opportunities, and enable place-based responses to local NDIS workforce and service system challenges.
ACTIONS:
-
Establish local coordinators in regional rollout areas to bring together service providers, local and state government, the education and training sector, the NDIA and other stakeholders in order to strengthen local networks and identify local priorities
-
Support local communities to design and implement responses to their identified challenges and opportunities
Keeping our sector strong: 11 Victoria’s workforce plan for the NDIS
03 Supporting staff through transition
The NDIS will change the systems, For managers and leaders in the practices and culture of the sector, the NDIS will demand increased disability workforce. commercial and strategic capability for their organisations. The Victorian disability workforce Through this plan, the Victorian is one of the most highly skilled in the Government is providing significant country, with a wealth of knowledge investment to build the capability and experience in supporting people of frontline staff in preparation for with disability. the transition to the NDIS. At the same time, the degree As a first priority, the government will of change being driven by the make sure that staff receive practical implementation of the NDIS means and timely information about the that staff working the sector may need NDIS and what it means for them. to develop new skills and capabilities. As part of this plan, staff will also access training opportunities and This includes understanding the practice support so they can work goals of the NDIS and how the confidently in the NDIS environment. new scheme works (including new terminology and systems), The training program will be developed and understanding how to shift in consultation with staff to make sure practice from providing support to it is tailored and relevant to their needs. facilitating goals. New knowledge and skills will be required to work effectively in an insurance context where frontline staff will be increasingly accountable for participant outcomes.
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The Victorian disability
workforce is one of the most highly skilled in the country, with a wealth of knowledge and experience in supporting people with disability.
OBJECTIVE: Support the disability workforce to transition and thrive in the NDIS context.
ACTIONS:
-
Deliver a self-assessment tool to assist the disability workforce to identify new skills and appropriate development opportunities
-
Develop and deliver a multi-stream training approach for new skills and capabilities that align with service delivery requirements with the NDIS
-
Develop and deliver an online workforce readiness portal with relevant tools, learning resources and practical support for the workforce
Keeping our sector strong: 13 Victoria’s workforce plan for the NDIS
04 Targeting quality training
Victoria is leading the nation The Victorian Government will work in its commitment to providing with industry towards outcomes high-quality training that meet that may include developing shared learning and assessment resources the needs of industry. or accredited courses to address new skill requirements, or devising
The Victorian Government’s Skills
strategies that enable more flexible First reforms set a new benchmark access to training opportunities in in training quality, with a focus on line with individuals’ professional courses that meet the needs of development needs. industry and lead to real job outcomes. In response to the recommendations Building on these reforms, this plan of the 2016 Parliamentary Inquiry delivers targeted strategies to into Abuse in Disability Services, achieve the best possible outcomes the Victorian Government will also for students undertaking courses review the Certificate IV in Disability in disability work. to ensure it has an appropriate focus Qualifications review on the recognition, prevention and reporting of abuse. The first priority is a detailed review of current disability-related training Development opportunities package qualifications to ensure for trainers they are fit-for-purpose for the The Victorian Government will also NDIS environment. work with the disability sector and Where necessary, Victoria will work education and training providers with the Australian Industry and Skills to understand the professional Committee to seek amendments development needs of Vocational to qualifications if any gaps or Education and Training (VET) trainers deficiencies are identified, and and assessors, and to provide respond with other strategies to access to learning and development ensure quality in training content opportunities that equip staff with and delivery. the knowledge and skills they need to train the NDIS workforce of the future.
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The Victorian Government’s Skills First reforms
set a new benchmark in training quality, with a focus on courses that meet the needs of industry and lead to real job outcomes
Quality work placements Work placements give students OBJECTIVE: the opportunity to gain valuable Support high quality work placements for hands-on industry experience. students, improve current training available to Good quality placements that enable disability workers, and provide quality training students to work alongside trained for the NDIS workforce for the future. and experienced staff play a crucial role in preparing students for work. ACTIONS: Drawing on innovative approaches • Facilitate partnerships between disability in other sectors, such as allied health, service providers and the education and the Victorian Government will support training sector to conduct research and trial partnerships between disability collaborative work placement models service providers and education and
- Undertake a detailed review of relevant training providers to trial collaborative disability qualifications within the Community work placement models that increase
Services Training Package and Health
the sector’s capacity to offer Training Package and identify and respond high-quality, supervised placements to any gaps in these qualifications (focusing in the new NDIS environment. on the core competencies) Ongoing industry engagement • Understand the professional development Through the work of the Victorian needs of VET trainers and assessors and Skills Commissioner and a new model provide access to learning and development of industry engagement, the Victorian opportunities to equip these staff with the Government is giving a real voice knowledge and skills they need to provide to the disability sector to ensure the quality training for the NDIS workforce of training system responds to the needs the future of disability service providers.
Keeping our sector strong: 15 Victoria’s workforce plan for the NDIS
05 Achieving excellence in research and education
The Future Social Service Institute The Institute will be built on principles will drive world-leading education, of co-design and will work jointly with training and research in the disability the sector and people with lived experience of disability to inform and broader social services sector. its teaching and research.
The Institute is a unique collaboration The Institute will help our social between the Victorian Council services sector develop and thrive, of Social Services (VCOSS), RMIT increasing its profile as an exciting University and the Victorian place to work, and boosting the skills Government which will prepare of the Victorian disability workforce. Victoria for significant changes that will occur in the delivery of social services in the new NDIS environment. Building on seed funding provided by the Victorian Government, this additional investment will establish the Institute, which will be fully operational in 2017.
The Institute will design world-best education programs to help train the workforce of the future, research emerging trends and opportunities in social services reform, and empower not-for-profits to reorient to a global market.
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The Institute will design work-best education programs to help train the workforce of the future.
OBJECTIVE: Facilitate continued growth of the social support and care workforce, appropriately equip the sector and workforce to deliver services, and promote the range of rewarding roles and opportunities in the sector through education, training and research.
ACTIONS: The Victorian Government will provide funding to support the Future Social Service Institute, to:
-
Offer 2 industry fellowships and 2 PhD scholarships aimed at the social and community sector
-
Commission programs and courses designed to fill skills gaps and also further develop the social and community sector
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Promote social care and support as a valuable career Keeping our sector strong: 17 Victoria’s workforce plan for the NDIS
06 Promoting best practice support
The NDIS has a strong focus This includes training and on increasing inclusion and development opportunities, independence for people with developing effective information sharing and referral systems, and disability which is changing supporting strategies to drive expectations for staff working and disseminate best practice in the sector. across Victoria. This plan also provides funding to This is particularly the case for staff promote best practice approaches working with people with high and to working with people with behaviours complex needs, who will need the of concern which includes positive knowledge and skills to support their behaviour support strategies. clients to engage more independently Building this capability across the in community life. sector will prevent restrictive practices For example, a young person with and crisis-driven responses. complex needs living in residential
The Victorian Government will
aged care could use the funding and continue to work with national flexibility provided by the NDIS to live partners to ensure strong protections more independently. against the use of restrictive practices. This plan delivers funding for This project’s aim is to promote best work across the disability sector practice approaches between the and with mainstream services disability sector and mainstream (such as health, mental health and services to support people with high justice) to identify and to implement and complex needs. This project best practice approaches to is supported by funding from the supporting participants with high and
Commonwealth Government’s NDIS
complex needs. Sector Development Fund.
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This plan delivers funding for work across the disability sector and with mainstream services to identify and to implement best practice approaches.
OBJECTIVE: Test best practice approaches, and build the capacity of workforces across mainstream and disability service systems to respond effectively to the diverse needs of people with disability who have high and complex needs.
ACTIONS:
-
Test and verify collaborative partnerships and practice approaches across NDIS and mainstream service systems such as justice, health, family services and mental health, to support people with disability who have high and complex needs
-
Provide practice support so more workers have the skills and experience required to respond to complex needs and behaviours of concern
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Establish a portal with relevant tools, learning resources and practical support for the workforce
Keeping our sector strong: 19 Victoria’s workforce plan for the NDIS
07 Building allied health capacity
Demand for allied health services is This plan addresses these challenges expected to increase with the NDIS, through complementary projects particularly in the critical area of that will build Victoria’s allied health capacity and capability. This includes early childhood intervention. the development of an allied health workforce capability framework to Allied health professionals play foster the expertise of allied health an important role in conducting professionals working in disability, assessments, delivering therapeutic and to improve service capacity interventions, and prescribing and through greater use of allied health assisting with aids, equipment and assistants and VET-trained workers. other assistive technology solutions for people with disability. The Victorian Government will also continue to support national Some allied health professions initiatives to build allied health are already in short supply. workforce capacity across the Experience from the Barwon NDIS country and provide better access trial shows that maintaining an to allied health services for people adequate supply of allied health with disability. professionals can be particularly challenging in rural and regional The allied health assistant workforce areas, where a change in one or two project is supported by funding from workers can deplete local supply. the Commonwealth Government’s NDIS Sector Development Fund. A further challenge is the absence of consistent frameworks to support capability development in complex disability among allied health professionals.
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This plan responds to challenges including short supply of allied health professionals through complementary projects that will build Victoria’s allied health capacity and capability.
OBJECTIVE: Increase the capacity and capability of allied health professionals and use of allied health assistants to support people with disability.
ACTIONS:
-
Provide training and assistance to allied health professionals and VET-trained disability workers to increase their ability to support people with complex disability
-
Develop a capability framework and educational resources to support allied health professionals to work with people with disability
Keeping our sector strong: 21 Victoria’s workforce plan for the NDIS
08 Promoting the sector
The NDIS is creating exciting The Victorian Government is opportunities for people looking for investing in targeted strategies to a values-driven career with a direct actively promote careers in disability across the spectrum of roles, from impact on the lives of others. direct support to management and leadership in the sector. The disability workforce needs to expand rapidly to meet growing Strategies will reach out to groups demand for services and support that are typically under-represented with the NDIS. in the disability workforce including young people, people from culturally This growth needs to occur alongside and linguistically diverse backgrounds challenges including an ageing
and Aboriginal Victorians. As Skills
workforce, competition from similar and Job Centres are located around industries (for example aged care), the state they are ideally placed to and historical barriers to recruitment reach into cohorts and communities. and retention in the disability sector. A focus on attracting people from The NDIS presents an opportunity a range of backgrounds will build to promote the range of rewarding a more sustainable workforce and jobs and career opportunities in one that better reflects the diversity the disability sector, and to attract of Victoria’s communities. people from a range of personal and professional backgrounds to work Strategies will build on existing in disability. platforms and be developed in partnership with the disability sector. While the largest anticipated growth is expected in direct support roles, the NDIS will also spark the emergence of new jobs. It will encourage engagement of people outside the traditional disability sector as participants purchase supports from mainstream services rather than the specialist disability service system.
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The NDIS is a unique opportunity to promote the range of rewarding jobs and career opportunities that are available in the disability sector.
OBJECTIVE: Promote careers in the disability sector and attract people from a range of backgrounds.
ACTIONS:
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Undertake a targeted campaign that builds on existing platforms and resources specialising in disability and training and information
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Target promotion of careers in disability to reach particular cohorts and communities through the
Victorian Government’s Skills and Job Centres1,
to support the growth of a diverse and representative workforce
1 Skills and Job Centres, co-located at Victoria’s public TAFEs, were created as ‘first point of call’ for students looking to start training, workers needing to re-skill, unemployed workers needing support for retraining and work placement and new employers.
Keeping our sector strong: 23 Victoria’s workforce plan for the NDIS
09 Measuring our progress
Robust evaluation will help measure The Victorian Government progress and keep the Victorian will work closely with the Government on track.
NDIS Implementation
The Victorian Government is Taskforce to identify committed to robust evaluation and
ongoing engagement with the disability measures of success, and
sector to stay accountable to the monitor the progress of objectives that this plan sets out.
The Victorian Government will work the plan throughout the closely with the NDIS Implementation transition to the NDIS. Taskforce to identify measures of success, and monitor the progress of the plan throughout transition to the NDIS. OBJECTIVE: As the NDIS reshapes the disability Understand the impact of Victoria’s sector it is likely that new priorities will workforce plan for the NDIS and emerge. The Victorian Government enable timely and flexible responses and the disability sector need to to emerging challenges. stay responsive to the changing environment and workforce needs. ACTIONS: The evaluation of the NDIS Workforce • Develop an evaluation plan and Skills Plan will provide the information needed to identify • Undertake ongoing evaluation what is working, what needs to throughout implementation of the change, and areas for further work. initiatives in Victoria’s workforce Lessons learned through the plan for the NDIS evaluation will provide an evidence base for future policy, both for the NDIS and the wider social services system.
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What’s next?
The next three years will be This plan will keep Victoria at the a time of unprecedented forefront of quality and innovation transformation for the disability in disability support, and assist the Victorian Government to maximise sector and workforce. the opportunity presented by the NDIS to transform the lives of This plan sets out the Victorian Victorians with disability, and the Government’s ambition to help foster lives of their families and carers. the disability workforce of the future.
It lays the foundations for a strong sector and vibrant workforce with the skills, values and attitudes to deliver the best possible support for Victorians with disability.
The Victorian Government is
committed to working closely with the disability sector and communities to implement this plan. The NDIS Implementation Taskforce will have an ongoing role monitoring progress, ensuring changes are on track, and helping to respond to new priorities that emerge during transition.
Keeping our sector strong: 25 Victoria’s workforce plan for the NDIS
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