Support
NESA effectively supported members and advanced the capacity of the sector across all employment services programs through the provision of sector specific professional development training and events, and capacity building projects across remote Australia.
Network and Supply Chain
NESA has a rich network of Industry Partners and consultants within its supply chain. This year NESA partnered with a broad range of organisations to provide targeted training, capacity building and other tailored support for members.
NESA’s Industry Partner network is an important value proposition for all of our members. Through our Industry Partnerships we maintain a national network of organisations providing invaluable support and products directly to members.
We thank all of our partner organisations for their support:
NESA Events
We strive to deliver relevant and inspirational events throughout the year.
This year has included:
Leadership Forums
The Leadership Forums provided opportunities for leaders and executives to gain information, network with a wide range of speakers, including Ministers and departmental executives and caucus with colleagues on sector, program and policy development.
NESA OECD Working Communities Congress – Indigenous Employment Forum
Held on 2 – 3 October 2019 at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Sydney, the NESA OECD Working Communities Congress – Indigenous Employment Forum… continue reading >
International Women’s Day Luncheon
Our 6th International Women’s Day Luncheon, sponsored by NESA Industry Partner Marsh Advantage Insurance, brought together female leaders from the employment services sector and…. continue reading >
The Power of Purpose
NESA National Conference
‘The Power of Purpose – Changing Lives Through Employment’ – 2019 NESA ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE
In the last two decades of employment services we have seen changing programs, changing labour market conditions, changing policies. And more change is on the way.
But through all of this, the heart of what we do has not changed: we help people into employment. That is our purpose, and the power of that purpose changes lives.
On the 13th and 14th of August, stakeholders from employment services and a range of allied professional realms came together in Melbourne to network and hear from, national government leaders, experts, researchers and industry and business specialists on policy perspective insights and directions, international, national and local approaches and better practice strategies.
“As a sector, we help individuals gain or re-gain their sense of purpose. We change people’s lives daily through employment. It is the continual sharing of the custodianship of putting people first, that is our core strength and what defines us.”
– Sally Sinclair, CEO NESA
Ministers
IN ATTENDANCE INCLUDED
- Senator The Hon Michaelia Cash, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business [Virtual address]
- The Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP, Minister for Indigenous Australians
- Senator The Hon Anne Ruston, Minister for Families and Social Services, Manager of Government Business in the Senate
Tané Hunter, Big Data Scientist & Melissa Neighbour, Urban Designer, a team from Future Crunch inspired delegates to think about how to work together with technology and AI to solve problems and create innovative solutions.
Leading digital influencer Peter Williams, explored the positive possibilities and outcomes of digital innovation for employment services, as well as anticipating human behaviours and interactions that effect interface design and creating a unique user experience.
Carly Findlay, blogger, writer, speaker and appearance activist shared her personal experience of life as a person with a visibly different appearance.
Michael O’Loughlin, Indigenous Australian AFL player and Kamal Sarma shared stories and lessons on creating deep connections as a leader and team player.
Brian Hay, Executive Director, Cultural Cyber Security highlighted why cybercrime operations are targeting job seeker and employee records and how to implement protections.
Professor Mark Considine, Provost University of Melbourne facilitated an engaging panel discussion with representatives from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, discussing how innovation in employment services respond to the ‘changing nature of work’ and the disappearance of many existing jobs, the opportunities and risks of digital service delivery and how to create new forms of inclusion for disabled and other disadvantaged workers.
Tané Hunter, Big Data Scientist & Melissa Neighbour, Urban Designer, a team from Future Crunch inspired delegates to think about how to work together with technology and AI to solve problems and create innovative solutions.
Leading digital influencer Peter Williams, explored the positive possibilities and outcomes of digital innovation for employment services, as well as anticipating human behaviours and interactions that effect interface design and creating a unique user experience.
Carly Findlay, blogger, writer, speaker and appearance activist shared her personal experience of life as a person with a visibly different appearance.
Michael O’Loughlin, Indigenous Australian AFL player and Kamal Sarma shared stories and lessons on creating deep connections as a leader and team player.
Brian Hay, Executive Director, Cultural Cyber Security highlighted why cybercrime operations are targeting job seeker and employee records and how to implement protections.
Professor Mark Considine, Provost University of Melbourne facilitated an engaging panel discussion with representatives from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, discussing how innovation in employment services respond to the ‘changing nature of work’ and the disappearance of many existing jobs, the opportunities and risks of digital service delivery and how to create new forms of inclusion for disabled and other disadvantaged workers.
Parallel sessions
delivered via four distinct streams
Parallel sessions delivered via four distinct streams – Practice Insights, Strategy and Innovation, Policy Implementation and Thought Leadership provided ample opportunities to exchange with subject experts and colleagues, invoke focused discussion, provide key information across all program areas, and present a wealth of new and innovative ideas to build into workplace practices. For the first time this year, the Conversation Pit was introduced to encourage delegates to engage in the interactive discussions on targeted topics of interest.
The Power of Purpose
Changing Lives Through Employment
“This was a great opportunity to learn more about NESA, network with others and take the opportunity to take time out and re-think and focus on what is important.”
“The overall concept ‘the power of purpose’ was critical and important for us all to refocus and reset on.”
“I liked all the presenters – the facilities were spot on – could not have asked for a better conference – best one yet.”
“Digital Innovation for Employment Services – Peter Williams – it was a balanced, funny and realistic look at the impact of Digital innovation.”
“It is a stressful industry so speakers like Kamal Samar are very beneficial.”
“Kamal Samar – made me have a hard look at myself and the health of my teams.”
“Carly Findlay – her honesty, challenges and hopes for people with disability.”
“The final session on Tuesday with Carly Findlay was both professionally and personally close to home. Her stories and thoughts were, for me, great to hear. Sometimes people either don’t know how or are unable to put in words, these challenges and ways of coping with them. Thank you for the opportunity to hear her experiences.”
“I took a lot from the NDIS and DES sessions. Working around these two systems, it was good to get information to help understand how the two can coexist and in some way complement each other.”
“Great to see the data come to life with detailed case studies and very useful insights around engagement with providers, re-streaming, staffing structures, etc.”
“Great to see the collaboration of organisations working together to make a difference.”
NESA Conference
Scholarships
Every year, NESA awards a number of Scholarships to deserving NESA Members, allowing delegates who might not otherwise have the means to attend the Conference.
This year’s Scholarship awardees were:
- Cena Farahmand, AMES Australia
- Robyn Reeve, Centacare Employment
- Bridget Harris, The Royal Society for the Blind
- Alysha Grandy, MatchWorks
- Suzy Levy, APM
Thank you to our generous supporters & sponsors
NESA
Professional
Development
Our Professional Development team collaborates with expert trainers to deliver a comprehensive professional development program for leaders, management and frontline staff through webinars, face-to-face training, coaching programs as part of our commitment to the continuing professionalization of the sector.
Our Professional Development events are available to the public, but offered at reduced rates for NESA members.
Topics are offered throughout the year and in response to demand. Tailored in-house training is also available in cooperation with specific organisations.
Popular topics for the beginning of the year were the usual “industry staples”:
Post placement support
Employer engagement
keeping safe
Having difficult conversations
Noticeably when COVID 19 arrived and the industry pivoted into new delivery practices, popular topics were:
Energising and engaging remote teams
Boosting resilience in an uncertain world
Understanding mental health
Being effective over the telephone to keep job seekers and employers engaged
Nesa
Events
In 2019-20, NESA delivered 128 public and in-house professional development events with 3,450 registrations. Included in the registrations were 330 staff from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment and the Department of Social Services. NESA PD has consistently high participation from regional and remote Australia.
NESA also developed a series of specific webinars to support new business arrangements resulting from COVID-19 and tailored professional development content to further support staff working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 resulted in many face-to-face workshops being cancelled or delayed, and the development and rapid increase of online events.
Nesa
Consulting
NESA Consulting services have continued to provide professional support across the employment services sector.
The requirements of our members are diverse and through our national network, NESA has been able to successfully deliver cost-effective and practical solutions for many of our members throughout the year.
Successful projects over the last 12 months have included:
- Developed and launched an Indigenous Employment Strategy, which has been put forward for an industry award, for one of the largest health regions in the country
- Delivered a compliance and audit project, supporting providers in their contractual compliance
- Produced performance improvement strategies for clients including the establishment and delivery of Performance Improvement Plans
NESA has an established national network of industry experts that have worked alongside providers throughout the year delivering professional support in key areas including:
- tender support
- project management
- development and introduction of good practice guides
- introduction of organisational quality frameworks
- development of Indigenous Employment Strategies
- introduction of frontline staff core competency strategies
- workforce development strategies including
- frontline development training
- governance development
- support in strategic planning
Supporting Remote Australia
Aboriginal mental health first aid (amhfa)
Developed a series of COVID-19 information resources that included both national and state-based initiatives and precautions to address the issue of important information not reaching the grassroots of local community stakeholders