The Skills Alliance is pleased to be hosting the Skills Formation Strategy (SFS) for our industry.
Funded by the Queensland Department of Education and Training, our SFS is one of many industry specific strategies operating in Queensland. They facilitate the development of relationships and networking that together can identify the causes of skill shortages. They then work to develop and action appropriate solutions.
The Sport, Recreation and Fitness SFS is industry-led and creates a forum for representitives from the sport, fitness, community recreation and outdoor recreation sectors. It is a unique opportunity for these representatives to work together on common and sector-specific issues.
One reason why our SFS is valuable is that it recognises skills shortages as a workforce planning and development issue, rather than entirely a skilling issue. The focus is on identifying issues common to the industry that are best addressed by the combined efforts of the different sectors.
Our SFS is directed by the Sport, Fitness and Recreation Workforce Development Collaborative (SFRWDC). This group includes representatives from sport, fitness, outdoor recreation, community recreation, Volunteering Queensland, Queensland Health, the Department of Education and Training and local government.
Together the group has identified their vision to be:
"That the Sport, Fitness and Recreation industry plays a critical role in developing and sustaining the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders."
Four key strategic areas of industry operation will be targeted by the group:
- Image – strengthen the role of sport, recreation and fitness in the health and wellbeing of society
- Workforce Development – develop a programme of attraction, recruitment and retention across and within the industry sectors
- Volunteering – ensure the long term sustainability of volunteering within the industry
- Industry Capacity – ensure the industry has the capacity to respond to change.
The specific actions of the SFS will take into account research undertaken for the project and the viability of addressing issues highlighted by this research. Sub-committees for each of the four strategic areas are being formed.
Check back here for updates on SFS activities as the project progresses.
For more information you can phone SFS Project Manager Stewart Cook at the Skills Alliance on 07 33670833.