Skills formation strategies are an initiative of the Queensland Government's Department of Education, Training and the Arts. As part of the Queensland Skills Plan these are industry engagement strategies which examine how industry sectors can attract, develop, train and retain a skilled workforce. The strategies develop community and industry ecosystems to build workforce capacity.
Skills formation strategies focus on identifying issues common to an industry or community. This approach seeks to gain an understanding of workforce issues holistically, recognizing that effective skilling can only occur when planned as part of the broader workforce context and the future of the industry or community.
Skills formation strategies engage with stakeholders to achieve the following -
The health system in Queensland is currently facing an increase in demand for health services. This added pressure stems from a growing population (approximately 2% per year), an ageing population (with all associated health ramifications), as well as a growing chronic disease burden. Furthermore, consumers' expectations are heightened and there is increasing demand for access to new treatments and high-quality health services.
Within this context Queensland's health workforce is also facing complex challenges. Workforce participation rates are falling and the existing workforce is an ageing one typified by acute skill and labour shortages.
Due to the increasing demands being placed on our health services it is crucial to properly address workforce development challenges in order to secure sustainability and growth. To achieve this, there needs to be an industry-wide examination of how Queensland can attract, develop, train and retain a skilled health workforce, followed by the development of this industry ecosystem.
The Health Skills Formation Strategy for Queensland is committed to these goals.
Activities and initiatives of the HSFS are designed to continue beyond the life of the project itself. The project is industry-led and centered on industry-wide collaborative solutions. The aim is that activities, linkages and strategies will continue to address the skills based needs of the industry into the future; steered by the networks and initiatives established throughout the project period.
