[Sub ID 4691] Self-directed online service platform (Professional Practice Academy)

Submission ID: 4691
Organisation name: Professional Practice Academy
State: NSW
Contact email: martin.baird@aftercare.com.au

Which priority group of the Try, Test and Learn Fund does your idea support?
Young carers, Young parents, Young students at risk of long-term unemployment

What need or issue are you trying to address?
The issue is the shortage of people (including the priority groups) entering the human services sector workforce to meet demand. What if there was a way for young people who could have careers in the human services sectors, to test their capacity to work and ability to perform successfully and safely, develop skills for workforce participation, and then find employment (contracted, self-employed or employee)?
The estimated 70,000 workforce shortage in the human services sector, has been identified at COAG forums, through our links to major providers in the human services sector, and the Productivity Commission’s report into the Disability Sector. The CSIRO “Tomorrow’s Digitally Enabled Workforce” identifies more people working in contract positions, being self-employed and the rise of the Peer to Peer sharing economy through digitalization. The application of a digital strategy combined with this strong evidence base, informs this idea. Finding the right worker for the right job is critical to the long-term viability of carer roles in Australia. Implementation will contribute to reducing welfare dependence and building resilience among young carers, young parents and young students at risk of long-term unemployment by offering pathways in to employment suited to the individuals’ personal experiences and skills, and to be properly supported in a career pathway and employment.

What is your idea? The objective of the Professional Practice Academy (PPA) is to be the Human Services industry’s ‘place to go’ for networking, certification, learning and employment. The purpose is to support a person considering employment, to progress through an online platform pathway of pre-assessment and attributional assessment, targeted training, mentoring, jobs applications and then ultimately employment.
The patented attributional tool identifies latent ability as well as skills and experience. Young carers, young parents and young students at risk of long-term unemployment will be prioritized based on their pre-assessment and support needs identified. Mentoring and employment readiness will build resilience and confidence to enter the workforce, and being prepared with the right skills and training will improve opportunity.
The training is via a comprehensive library of industry-approved, and delivered courses and publications, and the platform becomes an aggregator of online learning – supporting the person to compare and decide which courses are most suited to their needs, and offers guidance in what courses they should do sequentially.

The platform then operates as a market place to assist workers to find opportunities and providing ongoing connection for coaching and mentoring support for workers in the field, by functioning as a virtual community of practice that can be accessed via app or internet.