Background
In 2018, the Financial Wellbeing and Capability Activity (FWC) was redesigned to strengthen the focus of the Activity on achieving key Government policy priorities. Under the FWC, the Department of Social Services (DSS), funds the Emergency Relief Workforce and Development Capacity Building (ER) sub-Activity to help people address immediate basic needs in times of financial crisis.
The Department of social services (DSS) provided a grant to support the Emergency Relief (ER) sector through the ER Workforce Development and Capacity Building grant acknowledging that some ER providers may need additional support, including training and tools, to adapt to the requirements of the FWC redesign.
The ER workforce (both paid and voluntary) faces challenges due to clients with complex needs, such as domestic violence, homelessness, and health issues, requiring workers to be skilled in directing clients to appropriate services.
The aim of the ER Workforce Development and Capacity Building grant was to:
· acknowledge and evaluate the differences in composition and development needs across the sector
· deliver and coordinate training and development to current ER service providers to help them adapt to the increasing complexity of the sector, strengthen integration and support their workforce.
Matrix’s involvement
Matrix was successful in the tender process and across 2017-2018 after the consultation and development was completed a national training and development program was rolled out to current ER service providers to help them adapt to the increasing complexity of the sector, strengthen integration and support their workforce.
Evaluation tool
Matrix co-designed and conducted a survey to find out more about Emergency Relief workforce and establish the needs of the sector and gain a greater understanding of the 319 organisations managing 1054 ER outlets at the time of training (2017/2018). A link to the questionnaire was emailed to 319 organisations that were known to comprise the ER sector with a request to complete the survey.
Responses
The survey was active for a month (9th September – 10th October2017) and a total of 161 responses were received. This reflects a 51% response rate although some survey respondents reported on outlet level information and while others reported on organisation level of their ER workforce. Some key themes from this survey:
70% of the workforce are volunteers
54% want to access training online
Outcomes
"Over a span of 12 months, we delivered 101 training sessions across 53 locations, covering all States and Territories, encompassing both urban and remote areas. An impressive 1,180 individuals registered, with a strong follow-up attendance rate of 80.5%, equating to 946 participants."
Project: Emergency Relief Workforce Development & Capacity Building
Date: 2017/2018
Location: National
80% of the workforce are women
80% prefer training in 1-day blocks
The most requested topic for training was managing clients with complex needs and difficult behaviours followed by conducting assessments for people in crisis.
You can view the report on the final survey results here
Training modules
Matrix developed a suite of modules covering a range of topics:
Module 1 Why we need to deliver Emergency Relief in Australia and the basic principles
Module 2 Enhance Your Understanding
Module 3 Embrace Your Empathy
Module 4 Creating a Connection (Communication skills and responding to distressed people)
Module 5 Identify Needs
Module 6 Let's Talk About Money (Basic Budgeting)
Module 7 Respect & Diversity (Cultural Awareness)
Module 8 Self-care
Module 9 (Elective) Preventing Fraud & Corruption