Nominations open for workforce awards in community sectors

Queensland community and disability organisations are being invited to showcase their achievements in staff training and development by nominating for the 2007 Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Workforce Development.

Launching the 2007 awards program in Cairns, Communities and Disability Services Minister Warren Pitt said many organisations in the community and disability sectors had excellent strategies for building the skills of their workers and strengthening client services.

“The awards program provides an opportunity to recognise the professionalism of these organisations and the vital work they do in communities throughout the state,” Mr Pitt said.

“It is also important to the overall development and sustainability of the community and disability sectors, because it enables organisations to share best practice in workforce capacity building and gain knowledge and inspiration from their peers.”

The 2007 program features five award categories:

• Effective leadership by a board of management
• Encouraging a learning culture
• Culturally inclusive practices
• Collaborative achievement
• Sector recognition.

“Each award category has four nomination areas – open, Indigenous, small organisations and regional – and eligible organisations can nominate for various categories and areas,” Mr Pitt said.

The workforce development awards program is an initiative of the Queensland Government’s Strengthening Non-Government Organisations strategy and is being managed by a key partner in this strategy, the Health and Community Services Workforce Council.

Mr Pitt encouraged organisations to participate in the awards program and promote the benefits of workplace learning and skills development.

“Nominating for an award is an ideal way to share proven strategies for success with peers and colleagues, or to contribute to building a strong, skilled workforce for the community and disability sectors,” he said.

Nominations for the awards opened today (Friday 1 June) and will close on Friday 3 August 2007. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Brisbane in October 2007.

All organisations funded by the Department of Communities or Disability Services Queensland will receive nomination materials in the next few weeks.

For further information, visit www.communities.qld.gov.au or phone 3234 0190.

Media contact: Peter Nibbs 3235 4280