Professional development to professionalise the industry

Staff training is not a “nice-to-have” – it’s a strategic advantage for your organisation.

And while the goalposts shift across the employment sector, positive workplace culture and staff retention are achievable – if you’re willing to invest in it.

The Government’s increased focus on upskilling and professionalisation is highlighted in the Workforce Australia Rebuilding Employment Services Report and the new Specialist Disability Employment Program.

All providers should be striving to find strategies to build positive workplace cultures, retain staff, and boost client outcomes.

The fastest and easiest way to professionalise the industry is with staff training and development.

And the returns on your investment could be significant. A study by professional services company Accenture showed that for every dollar invested in training, companies received $4.53 in return. That’s a staggering RO1 of 353%!

And there’s a heap of other benefits too…

Increased productivity and efficiency

Employees with access to professional development gain valuable skills to perform their roles more effectively. Coaching skills are some of the most powerful for frontline workers and managers. These skills help foster meaningful relationships and increase client outcomes.

As a result, frontline staff can manage their caseloads more effectively and hit their KPIs – leading to improved client outcomes. In fact, 71% of middle managers in employment services believe that staff training is the most effective way to improve job outcomes for their clients. (PhB, 2024)

Enhanced staff retention and loyalty

This is a big one for employment providers. With turnover rates as high as 46% in the industry, it’s one of the biggest costs to any organisation.

Employees are more likely to stay with a company that invests in their personal and professional growth. Professional development is often cited as a top factor for job satisfaction, with studies showing that 94% of employees would stay longer with a company if it invested in their career development.

Over 40% of middle managers in employment services are dissatisfied with their current PD opportunities (PhB, 2024).

Adaptability to industry changes

The pace of change in employment services is accelerating, and resilience is one of the critical skills your staff need. Managing large caseloads, meeting KPIs and responding to clients’ needs is hard enough.

However, large-scale changes in contracts, targets, and programs are significant changes your staff needs to navigate. Your teams need support and upskilling to manage their wellbeing and prioritise self-care.

Enhanced service delivery and client relationships

Ultimately, well-trained employees lead to better client experiences. When your staff are confident in their skills, they’re better equipped to meet the needs of their clients. Providers with skilled teams have higher client engagement rates, which results in higher performance ratings and improved brand reputation.

Collaborating to influence change

Recognising the need to provide targeted accredited training to upskill the frontline workforce, we’re excited to announce a new collaboration with Duke Education (RTO 22479) and NESA.

Duke Education will be offering an accredited training program designed to equip frontline staff with:

advanced job coaching techniques,
strategies to overcome employment barriers
an understanding of labour market trends.

The training will ensure job coaches can effectively support clients wherever they may be on their employment journey, regardless of the program they may be accessing.

Our training goes beyond the basics and includes the focus and priorities the government has identified as important to them.

The training emphasises critical soft skills like active listening, self-awareness, and building genuine trust and connection. Professionals will feel empowered to manage their caseloads and build meaningful relationships with their clients and the communities they serve.

With our combined expertise and dedication to excellence, this initiative will set a new standard for professional development in the employment services industry.

Stay tuned for more details about when the training will be officially ready for your people to access.

Final thoughts...

Investing in professional development is a proven strategy that can yield significant returns. It boosts productivity, reduces turnover, attracts talent, enhances adaptability, encourages innovation, and ultimately leads to more engaged clients.

By supporting employees’ growth, companies not only foster a positive workplace culture but, also create a sustainable path to long-term success.

The question isn’t how much professional development will cost your organisation.

The real question is, what is the cost if you don’t invest in your staff?