In 2005 Eurobodalla Shire Council was duly recognised for its training and succession planning program by first taking out the 2005 NSW Employer of the Year and then following this up by being named National Employer of the Year at the Australian Training Awards. This was the first time a Local Government had won the prestigious national award.
Council’s Group Manager Roads and Recreational Services, Warren Sharpe, said that over the past five years Council’s Works Division, Euroworks, has expanded its training program enormously.
“Over 95 per cent of our operational staff have been involved in our training program,” he said. “Staff now seek out higher level training, both through Council and via external providers, including in their own time.”
He said this strong emphasis on skills and training has improved career paths for operational staff and significantly increased the proportion of younger staff within the organisation.
“Our journey has been challenging and we are only part way along the road,” Warren Sharpe said. “However, the rewards have been well worth it for Council, our staff and our community.”
Located on the south coast of New South Wales, Eurobodalla, like many coastal areas, is experiencing rapid growth that is increasing demands for improved and additional services all within limited resources. Added to this, Euroworks faced similar challenges as other Councils with an ageing workforce and a number of experienced employees nearing retirement, competing for engineering and skilled staff in good economic conditions and particularly the resources boom, existing staff reluctant or lacking confidence to take on supervisory roles and the region losing many of its younger people to the cities for education and greater career opportunities.
Warren Sharpe said that to address the above issues and improve the whole of the Euroworks organisation, the following strategy was put in place:
• developing and implementing a comprehensive training
program available to all staff
• identifying potential successors for all key positions
• reviewing the structure of Euroworks to provide improved
career development opportunities
• making more space for unskilled people through apprenticeships and traineeships particularly for the young, and appointing on aptitude, attitude and potential
• reviewing wages to ensure staff are rewarded for their initiative, effort and skills, particularly in the supervisory area.
With some resistance from staff about ‘going back to school’, coopting union representatives and key staff to sell the benefits of training, plus working with Illawarra TAFE to modify its typical classroom approach in favour of on the job training with minimal classroom activities worked wonders.
By mid 2005, most staff had completed their Certificate III level training. Euroworks celebrated their success by holding a special presentation by the Mayor and TAFE management along with local media coverage.
The training programs have since been moved into the administration, purchasing/stores and supervisory levels.
“One of the best indicators of the changing culture was the strong desire of many staff to pursue the Certificate IV in Frontline Management,” Warren Sharpe said. “Eight site supervisors have now completed this course. On top of this we now have 17 of our supervisors who have commenced a new pilot program on Certificate IV Civil Works where we’re trialling e-learning through Riverina TAFE.
“I am excited we’ve now moved to this phase of helping our guys. To give our guys the recognition they deserve, I’d really like to see the combined Cert III and IV course with experience recognised as a formal trade qualification, through the creation of a brand new trade apprenticeship in Civil Works.
“We are working on government and industry advocates to try and achieve this outcome and would ask the industry’s support to see this important next step brought to reality. I firmly believe this would help attract more young people to the business of providing infrastructure for our community.”
Council has also partnered with local schools to provide on the job training for students who are choosing Civil Construction I and II as part of their higher school certificate. It is anticipated that up to 30 secondary school students will spend a minimum of one week with Council each year.
For further information contact Warren Sharpe on (02) 4474 1206.
