About 100 sector leaders attended the workforce summit on 27 April to discuss shared challenges and opportunities, including future career pathways in child protection and strategies to elevate the sector as a career of choice.
Participants also heard the stories of carers and young people, and the support they received.
Stakeholders included representatives from government and non-government agencies, Aboriginal-led organisations, universities, peak and oversight body representatives, as well as carers and young people.
The next stage of the sector-wide workforce strategy project is underway in response to the workforce summit held recently.
The project will closely investigate the key focus areas identified at the workforce summit, through round table meetings with targeted sector stakeholders. These interactive discussions will provide an opportunity to further engage with relevant key sector figures to collaborate in identifying and developing potential solutions.
The topics will have a focus on identifying ways the sector can collaborate to attract the best talent, consider opportunities to influence tertiary curriculum, strengthen student pipelines and Aboriginal career pathways, and to improve approaches to training and upskilling the workforce.
Building a skilled and sustainable child and family services workforce is also part of a national agreement to act in accordance with Safe and Supported, the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children.
This national framework draws on the major shift to Aboriginal-led services for Aboriginal children and families and will be an imperative element in the future child protection workforce.