The City of Playford is one of three finalists in the South Australian Training Awards – Employer of the Year. The other finalists are Kimberley-Clarke and Ausbulk. The award sponsored by Channel Nine recognises employers who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and excellence in the provision of employee training programs.
The awards recognise Playford’s achievements in the following areas.
- A focus on Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare training has contributed to a reduction in days lost to injury from 150 days two years ago to 37 days last financial year
- 71 per cent of training provided is nationally accredited
- 70 employees taking part in a Workplace English Language and Literacy program last financial year
- Specific Management Learning Strategy
- Scholarships offered to both employees and volunteers to undertake relevant post graduate studies
- A focus on supporting training through mentoring and support has enabled four out of five Indigenous trainees taken on by Playford last financial year to obtain permanent employment
- Comprehensive process to evaluate the impact of training
- Satisfaction with training rating by employees is 84 per cent (the national LGA benchmark is 75 per cent)
Playford’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Jackson, believes the key to successful outcomes from training is linking individual training plans to the overall Strategic Plan and involving staff in all aspects of the training process.
A great example of the staff involvement at Playford is the Finance Team who decided they would deliver the finance segment of the Playford Management Learning Strategy and to do this they would undertake training to become accredited workplace trainers.
“When staff take ownership of training it will always be successful,” Tim Jackson said.
Playford’s focus on training and development has contributed to a reduction of the operational deficit from $8 million six years ago to $1.7 million for 2001/02. At the same time, overall employee satisfaction has risen from 77 per cent in 1998 to 94 per cent in 2002.
