HumanAbility, an industry-led organisation, has been selected by the Department of Employment & Workplace Relations as the new Jobs and Skills Council (JSC) for Health, Early Childhood Education and Care, Human Services (including Aged and Disability Services), and Sport and Recreation. This is part of a new system comprising JSCs that will provide advice and leadership in these industries, replacing the previous system of 68 Industry Reference Committees (IRCs) and Skills Service Organisations (SSOs).
The Councils aim to deepen their relationship with the industry to provide strategic and practical leadership in addressing skills and workforce challenges. HumanAbility, comprising around 30 Foundation Members, which are industry organisations, employers, unions, and consumer organisations, is playing a crucial role in ensuring that workforce and qualifications plans are grounded in a deeper knowledge of and responsiveness to the needs of employers and employees in the sectors.
HumanAbility’s Collaborative Approach to Workforce Planning and Stakeholder Engagement
As the new Early Childhood Education and Care, Sport and Recreation, Health, and Human Services Jobs and Skills Council, HumanAbility adopts a collaborative approach to skills and job development and encourages stakeholder engagement in its projects and initiatives. The organisation offers standing forums, such as Industry Advisory Committees, industry leaders, education providers, small and regional service providers, and students, to address specific projects or issues. These forums aim to adopt a more strategic, industry-focused, and future-oriented approach to skills and job development in line with the policy goals the Minister and the Department set out.
HumanAbility begins its workforce planning processes, and stakeholder input is valued. The organisation recognises that some stakeholders may have experienced disruption and acknowledges the critical issues that require immediate attention. HumanAbility will develop and submit an initial Workforce Plan to the Department from February to April based on existing information and reports. Although the timeframes do not permit extensive stakeholder engagement, the organisation is eager to hear from industry stakeholders on the plan’s essential elements.
Industry stakeholders are invited to share their insights on immediate and longer-term trends or issues, such as pressing concerns, potential effects on their organisations and constituents, urgent responses needed, required worker training, new job roles, and ensuring the availability of appropriate training. Additionally, HumanAbility seeks to address the medium and longer-term changes in their industry or business, particularly how they might affect workforce demand and necessary worker skills.
For education providers, HumanAbility wants to hear about training resource areas that require change to make them more relevant to industry needs and educationally sound. Providers are also invited to suggest areas for improvement, greater emphasis, and current gaps or challenges. Although the time constraints do not permit extensive stakeholder engagement, HumanAbility will establish structured and more accessible ways for stakeholders to provide input in planning and project activities. The organisation encourages stakeholders to share their experiences and advice via email to humanability@ahha.asn.au, and significant themes that emerge will be shared as the plan is developed, and further comments will be sought along the way.
