AnnikaHF

2025 WorkUP Queensland Workforce Survey

We’re thrilled to announce that the 2025 WorkUP Queensland Workforce Survey is now live! Designed for and with Queensland’s sexual violence, women’s health and wellbeing, and domestic and family violence services sector, this survey is your chance to share insights and shape the future of our workforce.

Gathering this compelling picture of the workforce is critical for us to build on current good work and tackle the challenges faced together. We recognise this is a big ask, but it’s an important one. The healthier our response rate is, the more powerful and useful the results and story will be.

Data from the surveys will provide valuable insights to support and better understand our existing workforce, as well as informing attraction of our future workforce, identifying priority needs and influencing workforce investment.

Our goal is clear: to build a healthier, more supportive, and sustainable sector workforce, that can continue to deliver vital services to the community.

The surveys are open from now until Tuesday COB 8 April 2025.

The Organisational survey can be completed by one delegated key person who is familiar with the organisation’s operations such as a Manager or Human Resources Manager.

Click here to complete the Organisational survey

The Individual survey is open to all staff and managers across the sector, and we’d love to see as many people participate as possible.

Click here to complete the Individual survey

Privacy and confidentiality is a top concern for us. No individual responses can be identified. Only aggregated findings will be shared in the final report.

We encourage you to share this survey with your colleagues within Queensland’s sexual violence, women’s health and wellbeing, and domestic and family violence services sector.

Questions? Feedback? Join a FREE Lunch box session and hear from our data partners: Building a Stronger Workforce Together: WorkUP 2025 Workforce Survey Tuesday 11 March 1pm-2pm

You can also reach out to the WorkUP team, anytime at workforce@healingfoundation.org.au.

For more information about the Workforce Survey and FAQs visit: https://workupqld.org.au/workforce-survey/

by AnnikaHF

The Zone of Fabulousness with Vikki Reynolds

The Zone of Fabulousness is a transformative opportunity to connect with sector peers and deepen the work you're passionate about. It recognises you cannot keep yourself fabulous individually – this specialist work is a collective project, with sustainability deeply connected to collective care built on relationships of dignity and respect. It is in the Zone of Fabulousness where you, and your team can do your best work with clients are at the centre.

Vikki is an activist, therapist, and community organiser, working from a Decolonising and Justice-Doing framework, with over 20 years of experience supporting frontline workers, survivors, and communities. She has presented internationally on trauma, resistance, and sustainability in social justice work.

Leadership Consultation – Thursday 27 March (online)

Leaders, Managers and Supervisors are warmly invited to a consultative conversation fostering and shouldering up team wellbeing and client-centred care. This session will guide Vikki’s two-day event, encouraging teams to lean into and engage with this vital work.

Two-Day Zone of Fabulousness

Date: Thursday 29 & Friday 30 May 2025
Location: Brisbane

Come together as a sector for two days of:

Resisting Burnout with Justice-Doing and Solidarity: The Zone of Fabulousness
Trauma & Resistance: Innovative responses to suffering violence & oppression

Vikki will encourage you to foster solidarity and justice-doing as central to Collective Care and resistance against “vicarious trauma” and “burnout”. This is an invitation to learn how you can thrive in, and sustain ethical relationships shouldering up your team, clients and yourself.

Don't miss this amazing opportunity! Register here today:
https://events.humanitix.com/the-zone-of-fabulousness-with-vikki-reynolds

Read more about Vikki here: https://vikkireynolds.ca/

by AnnikaHF

Foundations Skills for Women's Health and Wellbeing Launch

Whether you are new to the sector and or transitioning into the Women’s Health and Wellbeing sector, we highly recommend this induction level training. WorkUP Queensland have developed a comprehensive 3-part series training for people interested in learning entry level Foundation Skills for Women’s Health and Wellbeing work.

Delivered by our experienced project partners, Children by Choice, this online training was designed in consultation with the Women’s Health and Wellbeing, Sexual Violence, and Domestic and Family Violence sector in Queensland.

This initiative sits within WorkUP’s Statewide Workforce Plan, delivering on our strategic priority: Develop the Workforce and supports continuous learning across the sector and increased confidence and professional practice skills.

Event Details:

Session 1: Tuesday, 25^th of March 2025
Session 2: Wednesday, 26^th of March 2025
Session 3: Thursday, 27^th of March 2025

Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm AEST (All sessions)
Location: Online

Please note: This is a 3-part series. Participants are required to attend all three dates

Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/an-introduction-foundations-skills-for-womens-health-and-wellbeing-work-march-2025

by AnnikaHF

Should Queensland MBCPs adopt the Quality Practice Elements?

A recent ANROWS evaluation of the Northern Territory Men's Behaviour Change Programs generated a new set of Quality Practice Elements (QPEs). Using research and practice knowledge, the QPEs focus on continuous improvement to enhance the effectiveness and safety of MBCPs. They were designed to be useful for anyone delivering MBCPs, no matter the context or location.

In our next SPARK webinar, we will test that theory by introducing the QPEs to Queensland MBCP practitioners.

Watch as your colleagues discuss the QPEs and respond to questions such as:

Are the QPEs relevant for our practice?
How might we use them to enhance our practice?
What value can they bring to our sector?

You will also get to hear from the evaluators themselves. Rodney Vlais (Independent freelancer), Lucy MacMillan (Director Evaluation and Impact, ANROWS) and Maree Corbo (Co Manager Community Safety & Social Services, Tangentyere Council) sat down together to talk about the inspiration for the evaluation and unpack comment challenges and benefits of engaging in this work.

A live chat will accompany the webinar. You can ask your questions and chat with the participants while you watch.

The Quality Practice Elements will be published on the ANROWS website, and the WorkUP Queensland resource hub after the webinar.

A recording of the webinar will also be made available. Register to attend and you will be notified.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, 27th of March 2025
Time: 12:00pm - 1:30pm AEST

by AnnikaHF

Building Resilient Workplaces: Managing the Risks of Psychosocial Harm at Work

2025 Psychosocial Hazards Risk Management Workshops - Continually improve how you enhance psychosocial safety and minimise risks for your staff

WorkUP is excited to offer leaders and managers practical strategies for enhancing workforce wellbeing and sustainability. This opportunity is made possible through our partnership with Kerriann Dear, an experienced organisational and WHS social worker, and current WorkCover QLD Board Director.

Our workshop series focuses on the Queensland Managing the Risks of Psychosocial Harm at Work Code of Practice 2022 (the Code). We’ll integrate compliance with the Code while aligning with WorkUP’s Workforce Capability Framework.

In preparation for the upcoming Resilient Workplaces Workshops, we’ve reviewed evidence to identify sector-specific psychosocial risks and best-practice strategies for mitigation. Our findings highlight the demanding and intense nature of work within specialist gendered violence and women’s health services, which can expose workers to risks such as:

Burnout
Vicarious trauma
Compassion fatigue
Other mental health impacts

These risks highlight the importance of proactive management in creating safer, more resilient workplaces that support both worker wellbeing and service sustainability.

You can read the full literature review here: WorkUP Queensland Compliance and Capability Evidence Base

Kerriann will draw on this evidence to guide your organisation in responding to these challenges. With emerging collective care models, downloadable resources, actionable insights, and practical tools, we also offer direct consultation with Kerriann to help identify and tailor solutions for your workplace.

For more information about the workshops and to register, click here:

Building Resilient Workplaces Workshop

Join us in building safer, more connected workplaces!

by AnnikaHF

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

WorkUP Queensland continues to respond to the needs of the sector through offering a range of professional development opportunities.

We invite you to join us at the following two events:

Understanding Trauma – An Aboriginal Healing Journey - Join Our Two-Day Workshop

This immersive two-day program is designed to equip you with the tools, resources, and strategies needed to work effectively and respectfully with Aboriginal children, adults, and families. Focused on developing a culturally appropriate and inclusive framework, the workshop will explore both traditional Aboriginal practices and Western methodologies for addressing family violence.

Brisbane - 12 & 13 March 2025:

Enhance Your Practice Skills for Suicide Prevention with Tania Felstead

Supporting individuals at risk of suicide requires a delicate balance of compassion, expertise, and cultural sensitivity. As practitioners, it’s essential to continuously develop our skills in order to effectively assist those in crisis, while ensuring the interventions we offer are both supportive and safe. This upcoming training is designed to help you build those skills and offer effective, trauma-informed care.

What You Will Learn

This training is focused on equipping practitioners with the tools to work collaboratively and compassionately with individuals who are at risk of suicide. It will provide insight into delivering interventions that are not only inclusive but also culturally safe and contextually appropriate. By the end of the training, you’ll be more confident in providing care that is sensitive to the diverse needs of those at risk.

Brisbane - 21 March 2025:

Brisbane - 25 March 2025:

Townsville - 14 April 2025:

For a full list of our professional development events visit: https://workupqld.org.au/whats-on/

by AnnikaHF

WorkUP Queensland Update

WorkUP Queensland is now in our sixth year, and we acknowledge and continue to be appreciative of the strong partnership and engagement with the sector over this time. Together we continue to lead the way in designing and creating innovative and holistic strategic workforce responses that have impact and are genuinely shaped with the sector stakeholders at its heart.

Over the past few months other jurisdictions who are focusing on workforce capacity and capability in the specialist sector have been reaching out to learn about the WorkUP Queensland model. At the forefront of our story is that we engage with and leverage the wisdom of the sector.

We have created a strong platform, exemplified by the development of the Workforce Capability Framework, providing a foundation for what good looks like for our specialist workforce. Follow on resources such as the bank of interview questions and the reflective practice toolkit, will be critical touchpoints in bringing in and keeping our future workforce and we encourage continued use and tailoring of those resources to meet your needs.

Reference Group

We are looking to fill vacancies in our Reference Group. Two long term members have recently stepped down. We are grateful for their generosity, wisdom, and support they have shared with us and other members of the Reference Group.

The Reference Group meets up to 4 times a year providing WorkUP with workforce insights at a broad and project level. If you are interested in being a member of the WorkUP Queensland Reference Group, please read the Terms of Reference and Application Process document. In this document there is a link to the application form.

Download the Terms of Reference and Application Process

Please contact Louise@healingfoundation.org.au

Workforce Survey

Our annual workforce survey will be out before the end of the year. The data we gather from the workforce survey will be of increasing importance as we continue to seek a richer understanding of the workforce of the specialist sector in Queensland. We have received healthy response rates in the past and hope to exceed this for this year.

Please take the time in your busy days to look over and share this newsletter.

by AnnikaHF

Scholarship round 9 is now open

Are you looking for an opportunity to enhance your skills and knowledge in the violence against women sector? If so, you may be interested in applying for a WorkUP Queensland scholarship. WorkUP Queensland scholarships support the professional development of workers in domestic and family violence, sexual violence and women's health and wellbeing services funded by the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney General (DJAG). WorkUP Queensland is proud to administer this program on behalf of DJAG.

Up to $15,000 per scholarship is available!

The current scholarship round opened on Monday 14 October 2024 and will close on Friday 15 November 2024 at 5:00pm. This is the final round for 2024. You can apply for a scholarship to cover the costs of a qualification that is relevant to your role and work within the sector. This supports any person working in a role in the services above – from business services to practitioner to leader. You will need to demonstrate how the qualification will benefit your practice, your organisation and the sector as a collective. You will need to have your application endorsed by your employer.

To find out more about eligibility, the application process and the breadth of qualifications considered, we welcome you to attend a free online lunchbox information session on Wednesday 23 October, 12:00pm – 1:00pm. You can register for the session here: https://events.humanitix.com/scholarship-information-session-online-october-2024

Scholarship information is available on our website, including examples of programs supported with previous round scholarships. The guidelines and the application form are available on our website from opening date. You can also find a helpful resource with examples of other study supports that may be available to help progress your sector career.

To find out more, go to: https://workupqld.org.au/scholarship-program/

For any other questions, please contact Toni - workforce@healingfoundation.org.au

This is your chance to advance your career and contribute to the prevention and response to violence against women in Queensland. Apply for a WorkUP scholarship today!

by AnnikaHF

Implementing the grow the workforce strategic road map

WorkUP Queensland is excited to release the Growing and retaining a workforce for the future: A strategic road map 2024-2026. We would like to thank and acknowledge the sector leaders and stakeholders that have contributed to the shaping of this critical piece, particularly the project’s working group that have guided the development to this point.

There is a raft of reforms for our specialist workforce that will increase service delivery demands state-wide. WorkUP continues to lead Recommendation 30 of the Queensland Government response to Hear her Voice – Report One, dedicating focus on attraction, recruitment and retention of the state’s skilled workforce.

We recognise the significant challenges of a tight labour market, particularly for rural and remote services attracting and retaining skilled staff. The creation of the grow the workforce strategic road map is co-designed, helping respond to the additional pressures of future workforce supply and demand. With integrated workforce actions, this is an evolving piece aimed at long-lasting impact and influential change.

The Road Map's implementation is staggered over the coming years, alongside our core work and include:.

Pilot program to support emerging practitioners, including new and recent graduates
Showcasing series and practical resources to attract and sustain student field placements
Strengthening connections and leveraging the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Sector, with a focus on rural and remote regions
Exploration, testing and trialling alternative and flexible short-term sector led models, e.g. internships and foundational skills development to ‘grow your own’ in regional locations
Effective responses supporting workforce health, safety and wellbeing, tailored to the needs and nature of our work, at an individual, organisational and system level.

The following newsletter articles provide details and invitations to our current activities:

We are proud to support the sector’s commitment to the response and end of sexual, domestic and family violence in Queensland. We are confident that together, we can sustain positive change for our communities.

by AnnikaHF

Expression of Interest for Pilot Program Participation - Supporting Emerging Practitioners in Specialist Services Pathways

Expression of Interest for Pilot Program Participation

Supporting Emerging Practitioners in Specialist Services Pathways

WorkUP Queensland is inviting expressions of interest from services within the Queensland specialist domestic and family violence, sexual violence, and women’s wellbeing sector to participate in a pilot program for emerging practitioners. This pilot is co-designed with the sector to strengthen pathways and reduce the pressure of capacity and capability building in new workers of specialist service delivery. The expression of interest will close on Friday 8 November 2024.

Overview & Objectives

The pilot program is designed to address the unique needs of both emerging practitioners and specialist services. Its broad intent is to support emerging practitioners by identifying and addressing gaps in industry knowledge and experience, relieving learning and professional development pressures on participating organisations.

For Emerging Practitioners:

Participants will engage in professional development through tailored workshops, online learning, structured peer-learning, networking, and one-on-one support. The program aims to ensure that emerging practitioners are well-prepared for sector challenges, particularly in rural and remote areas, where workforce sustainability is critical. Ongoing feedback mechanisms will continuously improve and refine the program.

For Specialist Services:

Services that nominate an emerging practitioner to participate in the pilot will contribute to shaping the program content through surveys, participation in a focus group, and direct consultation with program facilitators. Your participation ensures the pilot will address the unique needs of the sector, filling knowledge gaps and complementing organisational capacity to support emerging practitioner learning and development. Participating services will ultimately benefit from a sustainable, skilled workforce better equipped to meet the sector’s growing demands.

Definition of Emerging Practitioner

For the purpose of this pilot program, an "emerging practitioner" refers to individuals who are early in their careers within the specialist domestic and family violence, sexual violence, and women’s wellbeing sector. This includes:

Recent graduates: Individuals who have recently completed a relevant degree or certification and are entering the sector for the first time.
Sector changers: Individuals with prior experience in other fields who are transitioning into the sector.
Practitioners with lived experience or practice-based experience: Individuals who may not have formal qualifications but have been actively working within the sector for 1-5 years, gaining practical knowledge and skills through hands-on work.

Submit an Expression of Interest by Friday 8 November 2024

Your involvement will help us tailor the pilot to better serve workforce needs, offering a unique opportunity to influence future workforce development initiatives.

To express interest in shaping the pilot program, nominate an emerging practitioner to participate, or both, please CLICK HERE to complete a short form.

Need more information?

If you have any questions or would like to speak with someone, please contact WorkUP Queensland via phone or email.

0428 103 841 | workforce@healingfoundation.org.au

by AnnikaHF

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