Boosting Jobs and Skills in Disability Support Sector

People with disability will receive better care and support as part of a NSW Government initiative which aims to boost the quality and quantity of workers in a rapidly growing sector.

Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said the More Jobs More Care initiative aims to upskill workers, attract more staff and deliver the best possible care to people with disability in our state.

“The NDIS is delivering unprecedented social and economic benefits for NSW, with more than 138,000 people receiving supports through the NDIS, including 72,000 who are receiving support for the first time,” Mr Ward said.

“This enormous increase in demand for services and support has put pressure on the sector and this new initiative will help create a pipeline of qualified staff and a more robust workforce to meet future demand.

“We want to hear from organisations and providers with innovative and exciting ideas about how to boost jobs and skills in the disability support sector to come forward and submit a proposal.”

More Jobs More Care will have a regional focus and will look to attract new workers to the sector by delivering fee-free courses through Registered Training

Organisations and provide extensive mentoring and practical supports for new workers.

More Jobs More Care will also focus on recruiting, training and retaining staff in parts of the state which currently have a distinct lack of services, resulting in an underutilisation of people’s NDIS packages.

The program will seek to assist workers by reducing barriers to entering the workforce, and support service providers to find the right staff, by offering a service that helps new workers through recruitment, accreditation and training.

Applications are open now and will close on Sunday, 2 May 2021.

/Public Release. View in full here.