Free workforce planning course for Queensland businesses kicks off

• Almost 150 participants have registered for a free seven-week Workforce Planning Course funded by the Queensland Government’s Jobs Queensland..
• The short-course helps small and medium sized businesses find the right people, with the right skill at the right time to support their business.
• The course is being delivered online and/or in person at the Caboolture and Sippy Downs campuses of University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC)

Helping small and medium sized business owners and managers develop an agile, flexible workforce plan is the aim of a free seven week course underway at the Caboolture and University of the Sunshine Coast’s (UniSC) Sippy Downs campuses .

Jobs Queensland initiated the partnership with USC to extend the impact of their free Workforce Planning Connect resources - which were co-designed for industry by the Business Chamber Queensland.

A number of Industry Workforce Advisors will also be undertaking the course to increase their capability to work with individual businesses to identify workforce challenges, develop a workforce plan and suggest options to address the need.

Registrations have already opened for the next free Workforce Planning Course from 23 June. Participants can attend in person at UniSC’s Sunshine Coast campus or online.

Register for the next Workforce Planning Course at https://www.usc.edu.au/study/courses-and-programs/business-short-courses-and-microcredentials/workforce-planning.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer:

“The free Workforce Planning Course is a great opportunity for small businesses to upskill quickly and support them to think about the bigger picture.

“I'm delighted to see the first participants taking part as micro-credentials offer a valuable pathway for businesses to learn about key issues, current research and how it can apply to them.

“With Queensland’s unemployment rate at 3.8 per cent, local small businesses looking for more staff need to be working smarter to recruit or develop the skills of the workers they need now and into the future. This partnership with UniSC and the Queensland Government is a valuable opportunity for business owners to utilise Jobs Queensland’s free Workforce Planning Connect tools and resources to undertake their own workforce planning to better prepare for the future of their business.”

Quotes attributable to University of the Sunshine Coast Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Helen Bartlett:

“Nearly 150 participants from across Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast have registered for the first round of delivery for the Workforce Planning Course at the Caboolture and Sunshine Coast campuses, which really reflects the demand for business skills in these two fast-growing regions,” Professor Bartlett said.

“It’s good to see so many companies taking advantage of this new opportunity which follows the successful delivery of the Business Planning Course at several locations including Caboolture, Sunshine Coast, Gympie, Fraser Coast and Townsville.

“And it’s not just small businesses owners who are signing up, we have schools, industry workforce advisors and some larger businesses who can all see the value of planning for the future.

“We can see that this free micro-credential appeals to business owners with busy schedules seeking information they can implement quickly, with the benefit that value is packed into a short timeframe. Those who choose to undertake the assignments will receive one course credit toward a postgraduate qualification in business administration.”

Explainer/fast fact and or further information:

To find out more about UniSC’s partnership with Jobs Queensland, visit www.jobsqueensland.qld.gov.au/current-partnerships/unisc-working-planning-course/

Jobs Queensland’s free Workforce Planning Connect resources can be accessed at www.jobsqueensland.qld.gov.au/wpc.

To find out more about Industry Workforce Advisors visit https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/employing/planning-workforce/industry-workforce-advisors.

Register for the next Workforce Planning Course at https://www.usc.edu.au/study/courses-and-programs/business-short-courses-and-microcredentials/workforce-planning.

ENDS

Media contact – Gary Shipway 0458 090 906