The winners from the second annual Health and Community Services Workforce Innovation Awards were announced overnight in Brisbane at a Gala Dinner held at the Sebel and Citigate Hotel.
Over 250 people attended the event which was presented by the Workforce Council and awarded organisations and individuals showcasing a diverse range of strategies being used to enhance the capacity of the Health and Community Services Industries within Queensland.
14 organisations and individuals walked away with trophies amongst an impressive 25 finalists listed in 10 categories. (please see below for a complete listing of award winners in each category).
Workforce Council Executive Director Wallis Westbrook said the event again highlighted the importance of ensuring we recognise the efforts of our industries.
"More often than not, organisations and individuals within our industries are relatively modest about their achievements in the workplace and it's our role to make certain we reward these efforts, as they continue to encourage further innovative practice," said Mr Westbrook.
"As this is only the second time we have presented these awards, and by the standard of nominations from the past two years, the Workforce Council is certain nominations for next year will continue to impress our industries by delivering quality submissions," said Mr Westbrook.
The gala dinner and awards presentation also featured a key note address by Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG who shared some of his own life experience whilst applauding the role of the health and community services industries.
2011 WORKFORCE INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS:
Excellence in Workforce Innovation - Sector Recognition
Winner: Spiritus Community and Aged Care
In response to the ever increasing burden of disease, Spiritus has developed and implemented a state-wide Chronic Conditions Self-Management (CCSM) program which is currently being delivered to clients. Spiritus has developed a Self-Management Strategy with the aim of integrating self-management support philosophy and principles into all Spiritus services provided to the greater Queensland community. In achieving this objective, Spiritus will assist individuals to better self-manage their health and wellbeing and appropriately access health resources.
Excellence in Workforce Leadership by a Board of Management
Winner: TLC Training Solutions
TLC Training Solutions believed in workplace based training that was relevant to industry needs and trends and provided employers with options when facing the need to recruit qualified staff. TLC's Board of Management worked tirelessly with the sole purpose of giving back to our industry from them and us- high quality, workplace based training that supported the community service industry.
Excellence in Recruitment
Winner: Aged Care Skills Formation Strategy Toowoomba
The key objective for the Aged Care Skills Formation Strategy is to cultivate a process of change within industry; a change that fosters industry to own and be responsible for its skills acquisition, development, utilisation and retention- with support, while moving away from the age old misconception that government will solve skills shortages. The process also fosters close cross agency collaboration.
Excellence in Creating a Learning Culture in the Workplace
Winner (Small/Medium organisation): Bulimba Child Care Centre
Bulimba Child Care Centre supports, promotes and celebrates the professional development of every team member and the importance of it being a lifelong philosophy. This is evidenced by a large budget commitment this and our resulting participation in external activities like the Action Research project, membership on the Brisbane south Professional Support Network through PSCQ, continuing professional relationships with recognised Training Organisations, supporting educators to participate in staff exchanges and attendance at both external and internal workshops.
Winner(Large organisation): The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital
The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital (TSCPH) have realised the need to continue to strive to identify and develop both their staff and volunteers within the organisation.In 2008, TSCPH staff participated in a state wide, bottom up program to review and re-establish a new set of values. Coming out of this process, five new Values emerged: Compassion, Respect, Justice, Working Together and Leading through Learning. The inclusion of leading through learning as a core value ensures that its meaning and intent are integral to all of their work - from work design to policy development to system development and delivery of work.
Excellence in Human Resource Development
Winner: Burdekin Flexible Support Services
In 2009 the Board developed a Strategic Plan and went through a process of evaluating the model of service and the structure of our workforce. The CEO wrote a paper on a Workforce Proposal contrasting the demographics of the staff and service users, discussing a new model of service and matching this with a new model of recruitment and retention practices.
Excellence in Collaborative Workforce Initiatives
Winner: Charleville Medical Model Collaboration (Charleville Hospital, Royal Flying Doctors Service, Charleville & Western Area Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health)
The key challenge for Charleville is to develop a medical workforce model which will sustain private general practice, hospital birthing services, provide services which are culturally appropriate, offer choices of access and enable a work/life balance for the doctors. Working together the Charleville hospital, Royal Flying Doctors Service, Private GPs and Charleville and Western Areas Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for health are moving towards meeting this challenge.
Excellence in Cultural Inclusiveness in the Workforce
Winner: Cunningham Centre and Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE
Working together, these two registered training organisations have made a commitment to Close the Gap for Indigenous Australians. This partnership has operated with the goal of increasing the number of Indigenous Primary Health Care Workers in Queensland, enabling them to work in their own towns to provide localised health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Excellence in Workforce Achievement in a Regional and Remote Setting
Winner: Islanders Board of Industries and Services (IBIS)
The IBIS Health Choice Program is an innovative, ongoing educational program designed to promote health food choices and the benefits of exercise to the people of the TS & NPA to improve overall health status. This program initiated the employment of a Store Nutritionist, a partnership with a government agency, a subsidised food basket and most significantly, enhanced staff knowledge that will provide the conduit for improved community health.
Excellence in Individual Contribution to Workforce Innovation
Winner: Areti Kennedy - Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service
As Program Manager, Areti Kennedy has overseen the development of the STEPS Program from the project phase through to permanent service initiative of ABIOS; including the recruitment, training and ongoing support of the extensive peer-professional workforce. Importantly, Ms Kennedy has been instrumental in the implementation of the peer-professional workforce model that had led the rapid expansion of the program throughout Queensland.
Excellence in Workforce Achievement by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Organisation
Winner: Kambu Medical Centre
Kambu Medical Centre aimed to improve the mental and physical health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in South East Queensland. The aim was to see if singing improves their quality of life and mental health through promotion of sense of resilience and social participation. The evaluation of the program is to be compiled by Griffith University.
The presentation of the 2011 Workforce Innovation Awards is incorporated within the Health and Community Services Workforce Innovation Conference, which includes keynortes from the likes of former Australian Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja, renowned social entrepreneur and award winning writer Nic Frances, emotional intelligence author and trainer Amanda Gore, creative champion and author Nigel Collin, and Skills Queensland CEO Rod Camm.
