“Since amalgamation, staff have fully embraced a learning and development culture,” said Leeah Daley, Human Resource Manager. “Teamwork and sustainability is our key focus. The notion of a job for life can no longer be assumed, so staff fully recognise the benefits of upgrading and extending their skills.”
Leeah Daley said that watching people grow as they achieve their personal goals is helping to build confidence throughout the organisation.
“One staff member had been reluctant to undertake further study due to poor literacy skills,” she said. “After completing a course to address this, this staff member has gone on to further studies and is now undertaking a Certificate IV level course.
“Amalgamation has provided new opportunities and staff have run with this. Some 60 per cent of all employees have achieved Certificate III level competency in their particular field. Some staff have taken on studies in an area different to the one they were working in, enabling them to change their career path and open up new opportunities.”
Leeah Daley said like most rural councils, Gwydir faces the problem of attracting and keeping staff.
“We are very proactive in providing a good worklife balance,” she said. “Flexible hours, permanent part time and job sharing enables staff to balance their family and other interests, as well as making the most of all the attributes a rural lifestyle has to offer. All staff are able to map their career path, with competency based salary packages rewarding staff for their additional efforts.
“Most staff are undertaking some form of training and they are requesting to be able to do more all the time. There is definitely a culture to make education count with staff taking full advantage of study opportunities through the Gwydir Learning Region and other training bodies.”
She said that 19 staff members are currently completing Certificate IV in Training Delivery that will then enable them to train others in their particular field. With a further eight people in the local community also taking this course, the aim is to be able to source all training delivery from within the local area.
“We are looking at what we currently have to outsource to see if we can offer it inhouse, such as workcover training,” Leeah Daley said. “Gwydir Shire Council is currently investigating establishing itself as a group training organisation to help address various skills shortages in the area. “This will assist local trade businesses to take on apprentices. Council will employ the apprentices and contract them out, alleviating the various red tape of employment that tradesmen find such a burden.”
