Community services gear up for next big jobs boom

Published Thursday, 21 September, 2017 at 12:08 PM

Minister for Communities, Women and Youth, Minister for Child Safety and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence
The Honourable Shannon Fentiman

Queensland’s community sector is gearing up for the next phase of a jobs boom.

Communities Minister Shannon Fentiman said the community services industry employed nearly 45,000 Queenslanders and added $3.5 billion to the Queensland economy each year.

“With annual growth forecasted at 3.8 per cent the industry has huge potential for creating jobs across the state, including regional areas,” Ms Fentiman said.

“It is essential the industry is well positioned for this projected jobs growth.”

Ms Fentiman today released Partnering for the Future: Advancing Queensland’s Community Services Industry 2017–25, a strategy that identifies key priorities for the sector. 

“This strategy sets out a clear plan for the industry and government to work together to increase community capacity and impact, which brings social and economic benefits for Queenslanders,” Ms Fentiman said.

“It outlines priorities such as including tapping into technology, promoting innovation and skilling its workers.”

The strategy was developed by industry members and the Queensland Government to ensure a strong and relevant future for the community services industry.

“The work of our community based support agencies is crucial for enabling vulnerable people to improve their lives, increase social wellbeing in our communities and strengthen the economy through job creation,” Ms Fentiman said.

The strategy will be implemented through a series of action plans, with the first plan to get underway this financial year.

Community Services Industry Alliance (CSIA) Chief Executive Officer Belinda Drew said the strategy was an important milestone in the partnership between the Queensland Government and the community services industry.

“CSIA welcomes the approach the strategy takes and that it builds on the report Forecasting the future: community services in Queensland 2025,” she said.

“The measure of our success will be the results achieved through implementation and I look forward to making a positive difference for our industry and clients as we work together as partners under the action plans.”

Health and Community Services Workforce Council Board Chair Michelle Robertson said the industry was experiencing a significant period of reform driven by the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the implications of consumer-directed service models.

“These reforms represent challenges for the workforce such as the introduction of new technologies and the need to gain new skills,” Ms Robertson said.

“The Health and Community Services Workforce Council commends industry partners on the collaborative manner in which Partnering for the future has been developed and looks forward to the opportunities it will provide for further joint work to address workforce challenges.”

Queensland Council of Social Service Chief Executive Officer Mark Henley said a primary focus of Partnering for the Future was quality outcomes for individuals, families and their communities.

“Achieving social and economic wellbeing for all Queenslanders requires the contribution of all across the community,” Mr Henley said.

“The strategy establishes a strong foundation for generating partnerships and joint actions across the community services sector, government, business, training and other sectors to achieve improved outcomes for people and flow-on benefits for the broader Queensland community.”

More than 115,000 jobs have been created in Queensland since the election of the Palaszczuk Government.

For further information on Partnering for the Future: Advancing Queensland community services industry 2017–25 and Action plan 2017–18 visit www.qld.gov.au/partneringforthefuture

ENDS

Media contact:          Ron Goodman          07 3719 7511