The NSW Government will partner with the non-for-profit sector to improve the way that workers who deliver disability services are recruited and retained.
NSW Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, Kristina Keneally, announced the move at the National Disability Services (NDS) Annual State Conference in front of hundreds of delegates from across the disability sector.
NDS is the peak body representing over 600 not-for-profit organisations that deliver disability services throughout NSW and Australia.
"I’ve asked the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) to work with NDS to see if there are better, more innovative ways of getting the right people into the sector and keeping them there," Ms Keneally said.
"That will include examining the possibility that Government and NGOs could jointly advertise for, recruit, train and provide jobs for workers in the disability services sector.
"The tight labour market is a double edged sword – it means more opportunities for work for people, including those with disabilities, but also creates challenges in terms of staff recruitment and retention.
"This is felt keenly in the disability services sector, with the Iemma Government’s $1.3 billion in additional disability services funding creating unprecedented demand for workers to deliver improved and expanded services."
Ms Keneally said any new recruitment strategies would build on the work the Iemma Government is already doing to increase the capacity of the disability sector, including:
• A five-year, $9.8 million injection into skills development;
• Boosting training for occupational health and safety in the disability sector, in partnership with Workcover New South Wales, with one-off funds of $500,000;
• Expanding professional training in early intervention; and
• Streamlining service agreements to offer greater flexibility to providers, while delivering and reporting on clear outcomes for people with a disability.
"The NSW Government already funds around 750 non-government organisations, 100 local councils and 12 other government providers to deliver services – a funding agreement worth around $940 million this year alone," Ms Keneally said.
"Through the partnership with NDS, we will explore new ways of making sure that we recruit the people on the ground that we need – a skilled and stable workforce which can support the significant growth in disability services funded by the Iemma Government.
"I’ve asked DADHC to report back to me with preliminary options by the end of March 2008."