Tasmanian Community Services Industry Plan (2021-31)

In 2021, The Tasmanian Government and the community services industry released a ten-year Tasmanian Community Services Industry Plan (2021-31) to guide industry development, recruit and train our growing workforce and to futureproof the delivery of much-needed services to Tasmanians in need.

The Industry Plan is immensely significant as it provides a vision for the community services for the next decade, which is shared by peak bodies, community service organisations and the Tasmanian Government. It provides an overarching framework to guide strategic industry development and transition planning.

The Industry Plan’s vision is for a connected community services industry that supports all Tasmanians to live a good life and enriches our state’s social, cultural and economic wellbeing.

Overall, the Industry Plan contains three strategic priorities: 

  • Strategic Priority 1: Local Solutions for Tasmanians
  • Strategic Priority 2: Workforce Development and Training
  • Strategic Priority 3: Leading for Impact

To register to receive regular updates about the Industry Plan, please click here.

Workforce Coordination Project

The Workforce Coordination Project, which was the first stage of the Industry Plan implementation under Strategic Priority 2: Workforce Development and Training, has now concluded.

The partnerships forged with Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA), National Disability Services (NDS) and Early Childhood Australia (ECA) Tasmania Branch were distinctive and dynamic, and for the first time drew on the collective experiences, knowledge and diverse voices that make up the entire community services industry. 

This collaborative design provided a unique insight and the ability to drive initiatives that addressed both existing and anticipated future workforce needs, building capacity, capability and sustainability across the industry. Using this collaborative approach, we grounded the project activities in evidence-based thinking that was gathered from the experiences of those working in the industry, creating solutions for real-world challenges. 

We have achieved significant milestones achieved, including:

  • An industry career website with interactive functionality to facilitate engagement and promotion (workwithpurpose.au).
  • A targeted workforce review tool for organisations to improve workforce planning and development capacity (reviewyourworkforce.com.au).
  • A program of research on Worker Recruitment and Retention in the Care Economy.
  • Successful employment outcomes for new trainers and assessors, with Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) reporting they are now able to fill vacant positions.
  • Strong engagement of industry in co-design processes ensuring the uptake of project products and services.
  • Strong collaboration in place with industry stakeholders like education and training providers and job and career service providers.
Care Workforce Archetype Report

The care economy serves as a cornerstone of Tasmania’s commitment to equitable health care and social welfare for all its residents. Not only is it the state’s largest employment sector, but it is also projected to grow significantly in the coming decades.

However, as Tasmania strives to meet the rising demands of this critical sector, its care workforce faces substantial challenges. These include limited access to a suitable demographic pool for workforce participation, geographical isolation, inequities in resources, structures and funding, an increasing trend toward work casualisation, a shortage of skilled professionals, and societal undervaluation of care work. These issues are further exacerbated by Tasmania’s aging population and higher than average rates of individuals requiring care due to physical or mental disabilities, intensifying the strain on workforce recruitment and retention.

To address these challenges, a comprehensive research study was convened by the Workforce Coordination Project, a funded project of Skills Tasmania, which examined the unique dynamics and obstacles faced by Tasmania’s care workforce across aged care, disability, education and care, and social services during 2022-24. The purpose of the study was to understand how community services leadership can improve recruitment and retention strategies for care workers. Read the Care Workforce Archetype Report and its findings.

Information Guides

The Workforce Coordination Project team have developed four information guides to assist during the transition process.

More resources and outputs from the Workforce Coordination Project can be found below under ‘Attachments.’

Community services is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in Tasmania, employing approximately 28,000 local workers statewide in roles ranging from education and care (childcare), home care and allied health workers, to strategic project managers and experienced CEOs. The industry is also supported by a workforce of around 46,900 (formal) volunteers

The economic value added by the community services industry in Tasmania is $1.9 billion each year.

The industry is currently experiencing a critical workforce shortage and with a predicted increase in service demand, together with other global factors, workforce shortages remain a key priority. To this end, in 2021 the Tasmanian Government committed $3.3 million over three years to the Workforce Coordination Project to address this skills shortage. This project is the first stage of the Industry Plan implementation.

The implementation of the Industry Plan is overseen by a governance structure comprising three bodies.

  1. The Industry Advisory Council, which provides high level oversight and endorsement.
  2. The Industry Development Steering Committee is responsible for steering and advising, reporting to the Industry Advisory Council.
  3. The Workforce Coalition is responsible for actioning Strategic Priority 2: Workforce Development and Training, reporting to the Industry Development Steering Committee.

Each of these groups is informed by input from community and consumer groups.

The Progressing Workplace Mentoring and Leading Program, co-designed with NDA Training Tasmania (RTO 60034), provides a first step in gaining training and leadership skills and knowledge to support, mentor, coach and lead people completing qualifications in the workplace. 

There are currently two free training offerings available, including the Workplace Supervisor Skill Set Program attached to the Training and Assessment package (TAE40122), and a three unit skill set in the Certificate IV in Leadership and Management (BSB40520) from the Business Services Training package. The business units focus on applying mentoring, coaching and leading skills for team effectiveness. Download the flyer.

These free programs are ideal for people in the workplace who already do, or have the potential to support, supervise, coach and mentor other employees who are learning and training in the workplace, for example trainees or students on placements or studying industry-related qualifications.

Expressions of interest for the first intake commencing in mid-March 2025 are now open. You can apply via the NDA Training Tasmania website.

The Workforce Coalition Network’s objective was to ensure the Workforce Coalition Project is industry-led and that engagement occurs with relevant stakeholders at all levels.

The Workforce Coalition, which held their final meeting in September 2024, convened a broad Workforce Coalition Network meeting twice a year. These meetings were open invitation to all stakeholders responsible for attracting, recruiting, training and retaining staff in the community services industry.

Information from the meetings is available for download:

Attachments