Bundaberg Region’s next generation of health care and social assistance leaders recently started their training journey at the Bundaberg Multiplex Sport and Convention Centre.
It is hoped that their participation in the Health Leadership Pilot Program will fill an identified void in leadership experience in the sector.
Through the Bundaberg Regional Skills Investment Strategy (RSIS) project, the program will support and fund 20 health care and social assistance workers who are in supervisory roles, or who have been identified as being potential supervisors, to attain a Certificate IV in Health Administration.
An additional 21 workers have also been identified as being eligible to access this training subsidised through the Queensland Government’s Higher Level Skills program and will commence in January 2021.
Chris Kettle, RSIS Project Coordinator for Bundaberg Regional Council, said the program was designed to address a lack of leadership experience in the sector, an issue that had been identified by a dedicated reference group consisting of health sector representatives.
“In this instance, the reference group found there were a lot of health staff who have qualifications in their field of expertise and have been promoted to a supervisory role,” he said.
“Many of these people have never had actual leadership training.”
Jody Schneider, Learning and Development Manager with Southern Cross Support Services (SCSS), said the Bundaberg RSIS project had enabled her to enrol in the program and broaden her leadership skills.
“I hope to be able to share what I have learnt with up and coming leaders at SCSS,” Jody said.
“I think management and leadership skills is an area within the community sector that deserves more attention to build on the talents of our growing workforce.”
Zoey Roberts, Executive Support Officer to the General Manager for Medicine, Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, was pleased that the Bundaberg RSIS project had enabled her to commence the course.
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and thrilled I am able to develop and build my skills,” Zoey said.
“I hope to obtain the skills and knowledge to contribute to innovation within my workplace, and to work towards a senior/leadership role in the future.”
Bundaberg Regional Council partnered with the Queensland Government to deliver the RSIS project.
RSIS projects promote local training pathways tailored to local employment opportunities through industry collaboration on current workforce training and skills issues in priority industry areas.
Anyone considering training who wishes to know if they are eligible for Government subsidised training in Queensland should contact the appropriate training organisations or visit the Queensland Skills Gateway website.
This Regional Skills Investment Strategy project is proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Government.
