Top job sees winner selected
SELECTABILITY — a leading mental wellbeing and suicide prevention organisation — has been named the state’s medium employer of the year in the recent Queensland Training Awards.
The prestigious award recognised Selectability’s best practice approach to innovation in vocational education and training for its workforce.
Selectability CEO Debra Burden welcomed the award and said the organisation had worked hard to design contemporary training tailored to the needs of their employees and the people they support.
“Best practice training and professional development is embedded into all of our processes and part of our culture which means we can quickly respond to changes in workforce and industry requirements,” she said.
“Before the roll out of the NDIS, our organisation identified the need to build a workforce with specific training in mental health.”
Ms Burden said Selectability was able to draw on the resources of its training arm, Selectability Training, to ensure its workforce had access to the latest training and information, delivered in innovative ways.
“Having an RTO as part of our business means that our employees are constantly upskilling,” she said.
“I encourage anyone who is interested in working for selectability but is worried they don’t have the experience or training to get in touch today.
“Our No 1 prerequisite for joining the team is a positive attitude — the rest can be learnt on the job through our comprehensive training program.”
Selectability employee Margaret had worked as a hairdresser for almost 20 years and wanted a change but wasn’t sure what to do. One of her clients suggested that she apply at the mental wellbeing service provider.
“I hadn’t even considered working in community services as I assumed I would have to take time away from work to complete the required training — something I couldn’t afford to do,” Margaret said.
“I applied and started as a support worker in February and in that time I have completed the available internal training modules, along with my certificate IV in mental health at Selectability Training.
“I have now progressed to working as an NDIS recovery coach/support co-ordinator and I’m now enrolled in the diploma of community services.
“This is filling my new love for learning all that there is to know in the industry. The role certainly comes with its challenges but I enjoy giving back to my community and I absolutely love coming to work every day.”
In a recent engagement survey 77 per cent of employees rated selectability as a “truly great place to work”.
The organisation has a qualified and highly skilled workforce of more than 320 people, including psychologists, mental health nurses, counsellors, social workers, support co-ordinators, lifestyle support workers, peer support workers, domestic cleaners, trainers, life coaches and more than 45 AHPRA registered mental health professionals.
As state winner, AitkenvaleSelectability now moves to the national finals with the winner of Australia’s medium employer of the year to be announced in early November.