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 our members providing invaluable support and products.
We thank all of our partner organisations for their support:
We strive to deliver relevant and inspirational events throughout the year.
This year has included:
Leadership Forums
Post-Budget Leadership Forum
NESA’s Post-Budget Leadership Forum provided an opportunity for leaders and executives to have focussed discussion on the outcomes from the 2020-2021 Federal Budget and subsequent impacts for the sector.
NESA held the forum in Canberra in May 2021 to enable members to re-connect in person and hear from DSS representatives on the DES Reform. Keynote speaker was ACCI’s Chief Economist, Dr Ross Lambie who briefed the forum on the key Budget take outs for the road to recovery. NESA’s policy team presented an in-depth analysis of the New Employment Services.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (CDP) FORUM
CDP Forum
NESA hosted a three-day face-to-face forum for Community Development Program provider members from around , in Canberra in May 2021… continue reading >
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION
International Women’s Day Celebration
In partnership with Marsh Advantage Insurance, NESA hosted its 7th Annual Inspirational Women Leaders in Employment Luncheon… continue reading >
International Innovation Masterclass
Digital Transformation – Global Trends in Hybrid Employment Service Delivery
The pre-conference Digital Transformation Masterclass was held as part of NESA’s Online International Innovation Tour for 2021… continue reading >
‘REVOLUTION & EVOLUTION – The Next Generation of Employment Services – 2021 NESA ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE
On the 8th and 9th of June employment services providers, key stakeholders and a range of allied professionals came together in Canberra either in person or virtually to participate in NESA’s 2021 National Conference. NESA’s National Conference is re-known for providing opportunities for delegates to network and hear from, national government leaders and representatives, topic experts, researchers and industry and business specialists. With the significant reform agenda for employment services this year’s focus was on the current environment, the future environment and the journey the sector will be taking to get there.
The unpredictability of COVID-19 and border closures meant Victorian delegates had to attend virtually and NESA staff had to manage certain logistics virtually. The Conference was well-attended and the feedback received highlighted the importance of the sector being able to connect and re-connect with colleagues, peers and stakeholders and to share and discuss policy perspectives, insights and directions, international, national, and local approaches and best practice strategies.
“Change has been a constant feature in the history of employment services. The constant refinement of program and policy design have seen both incremental as well as more radical changes, and I believe we have learnt from experience that what guides us through this evolution and revolution is partnership – it’s critical to the successful implementation of our objectives.”
– Sally Sinclair, CEO NESA
Ministers
IN ATTENDANCE
Virtual address by Federal Ministers and Shadow Ministers included:
- The Hon Stuart Robert MP, Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business
- The Hon Luke Howarth MP, Assistant Minister for Youth and Employment Services
- The Hon Richard Marles MP, Shadow Minister for National Reconstruction, Employment, Skills and Education and Small Business, Shadow Minister for Science
Keynote
SPEAKERS
The Economist’s Perspective with Nicki Hutley
NICKI HUTLEY
Independent Economist, Nicki Hutley is a highly experienced economist, with broad-based expertise in both macroeconomics and microeconomic policy, gained over more than three decades in financial and investment markets and in economic consulting.
Nicki provided an economic update on the labour market as Australia navigated through COVID-19 recovery; identifying the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Change Creates Opportunity… Always
NICK ABRAHAM
Nick Abraham is the Global Head of tech & innovation for Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF), a professional services firm with over 7,000 employees. Seven years ago Nick founded online legal business, LawPath, which is separate to his role at NRF. LawPath now has over 200,000 users and has been listed in the Deloitte’s Fast 50 as one of Australia’s fastest growing companies.
Nick shared real-life case studies with delegates covering:
- Embracing change as a positive
- How to create an innovation culture
- Where are the opportunities
- Which ideas should be prioritised
- The secret of successful execution
The Evolution of Value & The Five Value Elements
MARK CARTER
We all know digitalisation plays a role in the future of employment services. Yet beneath all transformation, be it employee engagement, customer experience or future services, lies a common question: how do we build or add value?
With over two decades as a learning and development professional, building frameworks for blue chip billion-dollar companies and SME’s, Mark Carter knows a thing or two about human behaviour.
Mark shared research, taken over more than a decade and published by Wiley, in his latest book, ‘Add Value’.
Adventure Thinking: Lead through the Unknown
JUSTIN JONES
Extreme adventurer, Justin Jones closed our two-day conference.
Justin shared highlights from his expeditions over the past 14 years; and talked about the application of an expedition mindset, framework, and methodology to navigate the unknown, in this case the COVID -19 pandemic.
“This thinking allows an individual or organisation to not only survive but thrive & lead when times are tough. By adaptation and forced innovation, we’re all able to discover a new and better normal.”
PANEL SESSION: The future of employment services / NESM
A panel of experts discussed the journey to a new era in employment services. Discussions focused on what 2022 might look like including key areas around digitisation and self-servicing clients, complementary programs, purchasing arrangements and performance assessment and requirements.
Parallel sessions
delivered via four distinct streams
“This was a great event, and it was wonderful to see everyone in the industry again after not having a conference in 2020. This is the Flagship Event of the Employment Services Industry.”
“The Economist’s Perspective provided some great information and context.”
“Great to see the collaboration of organisations working together to make a difference.”
“Nick Abrahams; Justin Jones and Mark Carter, all three were absolutely fantastic and drew me in and left me wanting more.”
“The importance of building behavioural science and mental health interventions into our service delivery model for current and future contracts.”
“NESM reflections and realisations prompted through attendance at several sessions…there was a lot of information to bring back to our teams.”
“jobactive – current status & future planning….Practical information to gauge what we are implementing.”
“I enjoyed the sessions I attended regarding Disability Employment, Working with Challenging participants, Workforce Development. They provided good examples, based on real experiences.”
Thank you to our generous supporters & sponsors
PRINCIPAL SPONSOR
AWARD SPONSOR – EMPLOYMENT CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR
AWARD SPONSOR – INNOVATION IN DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT
This award is proudly supported by JobAccess
AWARD SPONSOR – CHAMPION EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
MAJOR SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSOR
WELCOME RECEPTION SPONSOR
COFFEE CART SPONSOR
genU Training (TOID 5553)
Thank you to our exhibitors
Conference
highlights
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 professionalisation 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 year were the usual “industry staples”:
NESA Events
In 2020-21, NESA delivered 129 public and in-house professional development events with 5506 registrations. NESA PD has consistently received high participation from people located in regional and remote Australia. The most popular topics included:
- Job seeker and employer engagement,
- Managing challenging behaviours,
- Mental health,
- Team management and
- Introduction to the jobactive and Disability Employment Services (DES) employment services programs.
In 2021 NESA took a window of opportunity when there was relief from COVID-19 restrictions and delivered four face-to-face workshops One was on mental health wellbeing, one which was delivered in a remote location, focused on new engagement skills, and the remaining two covered the important topic of cultural awareness.
“The online delivery method provides access for all staff to relevant training despite the nature of our business being spread out across Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania.
Our staff have found the variety of topics provided by NESA supportive of their work and the demands of their roles.”
– Debra Wain, Learning & Development Officer, People and Culture, CVGT Australia
Nesa
Consulting
NESA Consulting services have continued to provide professional support across the employment services sector.
NESA has an established national network of industry experts who worked alongside employment services 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
