Building a Skilled Workforce: A guide to VET for Human Services Employers

The challenge of building a skilled workforce is a pressing one for the human services.

The HSSO has designed this guide to help employers and managers in these industry sectors to address workforce development needs and challenges using Vocational Education and Training (VET). VET can help human services employers and managers to meet immediate needs for skilled staff and build a job ready workforce for the future.

This guide contains practical, easy to understand information about what VET can do for you and how to navigate the system. There’s also guidance on how to build effective relationships with training providers and how you can play an active role in shaping training products and policies.

CONTENTS
A brief guide to Vocational Education and Training (VET)

• Training and workforce development
• Whoʼs who in Vocational Education and Training
• How Vocational Education and Training (VET) can help you

Finding the right training providers

• Step 1 – Write a brief
• Step 2 – Do some research
• Step 3 – Create a shortlist and interview
• Step 4 – Conduct other checks
• Step 5 – Understand what to expect from training providers

Building effective relationships with training providers

• Establishing the relationship
• Formalising an agreement
• Reviewing progress and success
• Getting involved
• When things go wrongWhen a training provider closes down

Influencing the VET system

• Influencing workforce and VET policy
• Influencing training products

Case studies

• Building partnerships in aged care
• Creating pathways in youth and community services
• Finding RTOs for the disability sector
• Successful relationships in early childhood education and care
• School-based traineeships in human services
• Collaborative workforce development in aged care

Useful contacts and resources

Tools and Templates

• An example of financial support available in NSW
• Considering your workforce development needs: A background brief
• Finding the right training provider: Questions to ask
• Conducting checks on Registered Training Organisations using www.training.gov.au
• A checklist for establishing a relationship with a training provider
• Training Partnership Agreement