Beaudesert Shire Council is believed to be the first Council in Queensland to implement the competency standards contained in the Local Government Training Package. The Project will provide Council with a comprehensive list of competencies for its 400 employees. As a result, training and development will be specifically targeted to job requirements.
The Mayor, Councillor Ron Munn, said Council was keen to implement the competencies as part of staff development, and assisting employees with their current role.
“Council has seen efficiencies that can be gained by having competency standards in place and undertaking the project,” he said.“Any skills gaps or skills surplus will be identified and may lead to jobs being redesigned to accommodate the skills people already have, as well as allowing for development of new skills.”
This move is part of Council’s efforts to create a learning organisation along with the hiring of trainees. Over the past two years, Council has employed 23 trainees and apprentices.
Funding was gained under the State Government’s Breaking the Unemployment Cycle program. Trainees have a chance to work with Council for 12 months.
In January 2001, Council employed nine people on 12 month traineeships, working on various areas of Council. They also received training through TAFE. Council retained two of last year’s trainees as apprentices and two others in its general workforce.
Beaudesert also employed several groups of trainees under the State Government’s Community JobsPlan, a joint program with the Tamborine Mountain Residents Association.
For further information, contact Beaudesert Shire Council Media Officer, Deanie Carbon, telephone (07) 5540 5212.
