Attracting and retaining workers were identified as urgent priorities for the care and support sectors in Cairns/Gimuy at the second leg of HumanAbility’s Queensland Roadshow.
Our day began with fascinating conversation at our Cairns Regional Consultation where we heard from local industry leaders and educators about the workforce challenges and solutions they’re deploying.
We then headed out to hear more from employers and peak bodies operating in Far North Queensland.
At Anglicare NQ, we were delighted to meet CEO, Liz Colahan and Executive Manager, Roby Babu who discussed career pathways and the importance of maintaining a strong First Nations and culturally diverse workforce.
We also had the honour of meeting Debra Malthouse, Adelina Stanley, and Frankie Clive MAICD from Apunipima Cape York Health Council.
They shared valuable insights on building careers on country and enhancing community capacity, with their work ready program and community-based industry mentors playing a critical role in student support.
Earlier in the day, those attending our regional consultation cited several factors affecting staff attraction and retention in Far North Queensland were raised, including natural and other disasters that have disrupted the community, caused operational issues, and hindered recruitment.
Additionally, the highly casualised nature of work for some sectors leads many people to take on multiple roles across agencies, leading to long hours and increased burnout risk.
Participants emphasised the need for investment in health promotion and prevention to build community resilience and ease the burden on mental health professionals.
They also highlighted the importance of a flexible training system with effective Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to acknowledge workers' existing skills and tailor training to their needs.
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