Paving a future direction for disability policy reform in Australia

Dr Brendan Goodger, Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council

CS&HISC: what we do 1.  Work with the Community Services and Health industry to develop

national standards and qualifications for the Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualified workforce

2.  Work across industry sectors and the whole workforce, with a particular focus on the VET qualified workforce

3.  Support the development of the health and community services workforce by:

•  Providing service providers with workforce development advice

•  Implementing workforce development initiatives

•  Brokering national funds to support training and development

•  Providing industry intelligence to inform government policy

Presentation aims To help:

•  Navigate a complex policy landscape

•  Articulate the impact of policy on the disability workforce

•  Make the case for an integrated National Community Services and Health Workforce Plan

•  Argue the cost of doing nothing

Navigating a complex policy landscape Client context: •  Australians with a disability: 4.2 million or 18.5% total pop.

•  Of which 1.4 million have a profound or severe limitation

•  Disabled population is diverse with different needs:

•  40% aged 65 and over

•  17% born in a non-English speaking country

•  Access a range of services – 172,000 using specialist

disability services under the NDA

Navigating a complex policy landscape Industry context: •  Strong and changing service demand

•  Demand goes beyond traditional ‘disability services’

•  Providers looking for new business models

•  Difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified workers

Navigating a complex policy landscape Industry context (continued): •  Gaps in supply may be exacerbated by:

•  Lack of appropriate VET work placements •  Conflicting training priorities between national and state/

territory •  Growing disconnect between VET and HE systems

•  Need for better data to support workforce planning

Navigating a complex policy landscape Policy context: •  Uncertainty

•  Key policy (NDIS) yet to be fully implemented •  Complex system with multiple agencies

•  Tight fiscal climate – limited spending on services •  Key policy features/ drivers:

•  Home and community based services •  Emphasis on client-centred care and human rights •  Move to individualised, consumer-directed funding •  Increased emphasis on workforce productivity

Impact of policy on workforce planning Workforce  Planning  

Increased  and  changing  demand  for  services  

Key  policy  drivers  and  demographic  factors  

Increased  emphasis  on  workforce  produc;vity  

Reduced  growth  and  funding  constric;ons  

Planning  for  an  uncertain  future  

Shi>ing  policy  (service  and  VET)  landscape    

Impact on the disability workforce Current workforce: •  Difficult to describe the disability workforce:

•  Includes direct-care and non-direct care workers •  Works in a range of service contexts

•  Available data show that: •  ‘Aged or Disabled Carers’ increased to 108,216 in 2011 •  Most direct-care workers work part-time •  Significant contribution of 2.6 million informal carers

Who provides care and support?

Data Sources: 1) Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011 Census via Table Builder, Health Care and Social Assistance workers by occupational group (1-digit ANZSCO) 2) ABS Survey of Disability Ageing and Carers (SDAC) 2009

2%  12%  

9%  

8%  

69%  

Managers  

Professionals  

Community  and  Personal  Service  Workers  

Other  Occupa;onal  Groups*  

Informal  Carers  (2.6  million)  

Impact on the disability workforce Required workforce: •  Projected that the ‘disability workforce’ will need to double

•  More workers delivering home and community services

•  Roles will need to be reviewed and redesigned

•  New roles may include: brokers, business planners, local area coordinators and dementia consultants

•  Potential decline in access to informal care may increase demand for direct-care workers

Workforce projections: a note of caution

1.  All projections are subject to current policy settings and

assumptions and these change over time

2.  Projections need to be adjusted to consider: • Policy drivers • Increased funding pressures • Changing service delivery models, new & emerging roles • Emerging trends in consumer choice

Future directions for disability policy The big questions: 1.  How are we defining the disability workforce? 2.  Who pays? 3.  Where is the evidence base for service delivery models,

workforce planning and development?

Future directions for disability policy CS&HISC view: •  Disability policy as part of an integrated approach to

planning Health and Community Services •  Integrated (across agencies and systems), whole of

workforce approach to workforce planning •  Transparent workforce planning systems and processes •  National policy that supports:

•  Enhanced workforce productivity •  Recruitment and retention •  Development of skills for changing service needs •  Strong training provider/ workplace partnerships

Future directions for disability policy Workforce planning implications for disability service providers: •  Plans should be resilient to changes in policy •  Good relationships with training providers

Closing thoughts

Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council Contact:

For more information about the issues raised in this presentation please contact Dr Brendan Goodger, Policy and Research Manager on: brendan.goodger@cshisc.com.au