Whyalla Pilots Upskilling
Bedford is South Australia’s largest employer of people with disability, and we're embarking on an ambitious project to train and upskill our 530+ staff across the State in partnership with the State Government.
Late last year Bedford’s Whyalla site pioneered the first phase of a tailored Upskilling Bedford Program which involves training six team members to achieve a Nationally Accredited Qualification in Disability.
The one to two-year courses, focus on a range of subjects – both online and on-the-job, specific to the needs of our clients. Bedford’s clients will be engaged in evaluating the outcomes from the Upskilling Program via an online survey, according to Whyalla Day Options Manager, Shelley Jonker.
“It’s an exciting time and a great opportunity here in Whyalla to provide a platform for even further learning and training to manage the complexity of our industry – so for example they might choose to go on to do a diploma or a social science degree,” Mrs Jonker said.
The pilot program has already generated a buzz at Bedford, and so work got underway to apply for more broader funding to upskill staff across our 18 sites in SA – from Panorama to Port Lincoln.
Thanks to the State Government’s Skilling South Australia program delivered through the Department of Innovation and Skills, we were successful in securing funding for 50 participants in the next phase of the program.
“This is a major opportunity and important investment in our people,” Bedford’s Chief Executive Officer, Myron Mann said.
“We are delighted to offer these second upskilling opportunities to study Certificate IV in Disability, and the Diploma of Community Services to our Disability Support Workers, Personnel Training Officers and other staff.”
The first phase of the program gets underway in the coming weeks. To assist in the roll-out of these traineeship programs, Bedford will be partnering with apprentice specialists MEGT and Sureway Skills Training.