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Workforce Planning and Policy Directorate

The Workforce Planning and Policy Directorate (WPP), formerly the Workforce Development Directorate, was formed following the endorsement of the Workforce Development Strategy for South Australia: Better Skills. Better Work. Better State. The work of the Directorate is driven by the Workforce Development Strategy and by aspects of the Skills Strategy for South Australia’s Future that was announced in March 2008.

A key ingredient of the Skills Strategy will be the development of a five year Skills and Workforce Development Plan by the Training and Skills Commission. The Strategy represents a new approach to planning and delivery of training and workforce development in South Australia. The Commission’s five year plan will be its principle instrument for providing high level advice to the Minister on the strategies and priorities for increasing the skills base of the State.  The support provided to the Training and Skills Commission will be a major focus for the Workforce Planning and Policy Directorate.

The directorate was formed to position DFEEST as the leader in workforce development.

WPP's functions are broadly framed around the ongoing implementation of the three priorities of the Workforce Development Strategy, Better Skills. Better Work. Better State (endorsed by Cabinet):

 
• creation of a high skill economy
 
• access to quality employment
 
• better workforce planning.

The directorate has identified several key focus areas for its work:

 
• Bringing more people into the workforce, particularly young people and Aboriginal people
  
  
• Facilitating industry workforce development through industry and training partnerships and action plans
   
• Enabling better workforce information and planning to target resources and strategies
   
• Communicating widely what workforce development means for businesses / industry, government, TAFESA, communities and regions
   
• Positioning DFEEST as the leader and coordinator of workforce development.
   

Workforce Development Directorate Fact Sheet [PDF 508KB]

Workforce Development Directorate Business Plan 2007-09 [PDF 293KB]

 

The Workforce Planning and Policy Directorate comprises four work units:

• Industry Workforce Development
• Workforce Analysis Planning and Information
• Workforce Participation
• Directorate Coordination.

 Industry Workforce Development Unit 

The IWDU has responsibility for supporting the increased effectiveness of industry workforce planning and development initiatives through the network of Industry Skills Boards (ISBs). This includes progressing a number of high priority Industry Workforce Action Plans (IWAPs) to inform the Training and Skills Commission’s five year Skills and Workforce Development Plan.

In addition to working with ISBs, the Industry Workforce Development Unit collaborates with other industry stakeholders and works with other DFEEST directorates, government agencies, industry associations and peak bodies. The IWDU collaborates with these groups and agencies to build their workforce development knowledge and capacity, enabling them to effectively engage their clients on workforce issues.

The unit also provides industry workforce development brokerage for priority industry sectors.

In 2008-09 the unit’s priorities are on the six Industry Workforce Action Plans, and implementing new industry engagement arrangements through ISBs and the Building Business Capability project.

The contact point for the Industry Workforce Development Unit is Bob Pearce, Manager, IWDU.

 

Workforce Analysis Planning and Information Unit

The Workforce Analysis, Planning and Information Unit provides labour market, industry, population and regional and other relevant statistical and research information to support the activities of the Training and Skills Commission, Industry Skills Boards, other DFEEST directorates, and government in their workforce planning activities. The WAPI provides information for the development of the Industry Workforce Action Plans and industry and regional profiles for the development of the Training and Skills Commission’s five year Skills and Workforce Development Plan.

The unit also provides numerous standard products including monthly labour market briefings, youth activity information, and regional information as well as ad-hoc advice to the DFEEST Chief Executive and Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education on the labour market generally. Some of the products are hosted on WIS Online for use by external stakeholders.

WIS Online is managed by the Workforce Analysis, Planning and Information Unit.

The unit also provides regular updates on workforce development research to a range of external stakeholders through its e-newsletter, e.Alert.

In 2008-09 the unit is focussing on improving processes for integrating quantitative and qualitative information to support planning by the Training and Skills Commission, Industry Skills Boards and other Government agencies.

The contact point for the Workforce Planning and Information Unit is Marcus d'Assumpcao, Manager, WAPI.

 

Workforce Participation Unit

The Workforce Participation Unit supports workforce development by addressing barriers to participation in the labour force through education, training and employment initiatives; building the skills and capacities that link people to employment pathways.

The Unit is focused on identifying policies and initiatives that support population groups disadvantaged in the labour market to participate in learning and work. In collaboration with a range of partners and stakeholders the Unit identifies the skills development needs of individuals and communities in order to increase participation in education, training and employment. As part of the Unit’s role, we influence policies and strategies for achieving South Australia’s Strategic Plan targets to increase employment participation, learning and earning and reduce unemployment in addition to leading the workforce participation component of the Skills and Workforce Development Plan.

In 2008-09 the unit will focus on developing a new policy framework for learning and work supported by models, resources and tools for increasing labour force participation. It will also support the new Inter-Ministerial Committee on Learning and Work (pending Cabinet approval).

The contact point for the Workforce Participation Unit is Sally Jeremic, Manager Workforce Participation.

 

Directorate Coordination Unit

The Coordination Unit is the focus point for engagement between DFEEST and other government agencies and organisations on significant workforce development issues and activity.

The unit coordinates the strategic advice provided by the directorate to the Chief Executive, Minister and Training and Skills Commission about workforce development matters. Such advice includes the workforce issues associated with the expansion of Olympic Dam, and the implementation of the workforce development targets of South Australia’s Strategic Plan.

The Coordination Unit also manages the business processes of the directorate which includes the budget, human resources and administrative processes. The unit is responsible for the outcomes in the Directorate Business Plan which relate to building a high performance organisation.

In 2008-09 the Coordination Unit is focusing project management and leadership in support of the new Training and Skills Commission and its development of the Skills and Workforce Development Plan, high performance workplace practices in the directorate, and communicating workforce development to our stakeholders.

The contact point for the Directorate Coordination Unit is the Workforce Planning and Policy Directorate's Director, Chris Harrison.

Staff from the directorate are asked to provide presentations to stimulate discussion and create opportunites to further explore workforce development related issues.

A selection of these presentations are now available.