Training Staff

One important strategy to support and keep your staff is to make sure you provide enough training to help them do their jobs. You need to think about the training your organisation needs so it can work properly and plan ahead to meet these needs. This includes the the training that is needed by all, or most, of the organisation, as well as the training needed by only one or two individuals.

Individual training

Some specialist groups run training which anyone can pay for and attend outside of their own organisation. This is especially useful for some workers who may have specialist needs. It is convenient because the courses are run by other people but it can mean lots of travel for rural workers and it is a more expensive way to run training for a few people at once. You can find many training resources at the following sites.

Individual training for volunteers

Volunteering Australia has a wide range of training opportunities for volunteers. You can go to their website at http://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/html/s02_article/article_view.asp?id=1892&nav_cat_id=258&nav_top_id=57 for more details. If you can't find what you are looking for, you can try their free advice line for volunteers on 1800 008 252.

Individual training for DoCS funded non-government organisations (NGOs)

The DoCS training unit provides training for staff and volunteers of organisations that are funded by DoCS at regional venues across NSW, free of charge. The courses aim to meet regional needs identified by DoCS and DoCS funded agencies. In particular, the NGO Training Program aims to assist DoCS funded agencies to keep pace with changes and developments in DoCS Policy and strengthen their organisations, particularly around governance and money management.

Training for community service workers

The Youth Action and Policy Association runs regular training and conferences for youthworkers. Their 'survival guide for new youthworkers' runs several times a year in various locations across NSW and is designed to help new workers get the information they need.

See www.yapa.org.au/yapa/events for details of current training.

The Centre for Community Welfare Training produces a range of training on general welfare topics, across NSW.
You can contact CCWT on (02) 9281 8822 or 1800 649 613 to have a free copy of their training handbook posted to you, or go to website at www.acwa.asn.au/handbook

The Mental Health Coordinating Council offers training about (you guessed it) mental health, including the popular Mental Health First Aid course. Full details of all their courses are at http://www.mhcc.org.au/learning-and-training/training-information.aspx

Family Planning NSW offers training in sexuality and reproductive health issues. Its calendar is at http://www.fpnsw.org.au/education/calendar/

The Institute of Family Practice offers training to people entering or working in child, family and relationships services within the Human Services sector in NSW. http://www.burnside.org.au/organisation/page.cfm?id=35

Training is a new service which has been developed in conjunction with state and territory training authorities and the Australian National Training Authority as "your single point of access to the vast range of vocational education and training information, products and services in Australia." You can search for relevant training that is recognised throughout Australia, such as certificates in Youthwork and community Services Work. Its website, not surprisingly, is www.training.com.au

Individual training for sports workers and clubs

There are a number of ways of undertaking training as a coach, including face to face courses, online training or working with a mentor coach.

The NSW Department of Sport and Recreation provides training workshops to the sport and recreation industry, advertised through its training website at www.dsr.nsw.gov.au/training . The website also has infornation about customised group training, where workshops are designed to your specific. All training aims to improve the skills - whether beginner or advanced - of coaches, officials, athletes, teachers and/or administrators.

The Australian Sports Commission has released a new online course for beginner officials and coaches. The Introductory Officiating General Principles online course has been developed to assist officials in learning the basic skills they will need to officiate effectively.

The Beginning Coaching General Principles online course helps coaches learn the basic skills of coaching, especially of children. Both courses are currently available free of charge to Australian coaches and officials.
http://www.ausport.gov.au/participating/coaches/education/onlinecoach

You can look for other information about training to become a coach through the Australian Sports Commission's website at
http://www.ausport.gov.au/supporting/coachofficial/generalprinciples/beginning
or the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation's website at www.dsr.nsw.gov.au/training

Group training

When you find that the entire team, or large numbers of the team, need training in one particular topic, you can organise training for a larger group. It is often less expensive than going to training run by other organisations, especially for rural workers. However, it can mean extra work in organising the trainers.

Usually, your organisation or club takes responsibility for arranging a place to have the training and getting people to come. The training provider supplies the trainer, notes and certificates. Often, several groups will work together to arrange training that is provided for all their staff. This provides a useful chance for workers from more than one service to get to know each other and share ideas.

To help you choose a good training organisation, Volunteering Australia suggests you ask the following questions. (It doesn't cover every area that could be asked, but gives a good starting point.)

If you want nationally recognised training, ask the trainer if they are part of a registered training organisation and if they are authorised to deliver the particular course or subject area (also called a unit, or unit of competency) that are interested in. If they are, these units might count towards a certificate or diploma at a later date. Some training organisations will have many trainers on their books. Ask who will actually be conducting the training and what qualifications and experience they have. Ask if they are experienced in delivering the sort of training you need (communications training, financial literacy training, or governance training, for example).
How is the training assessed (course work, practical, exams etc)? Check if there are any assessments that need to be undertaken by participants after the course - this may affect your decision.
What are the learning outcomes or objectives of the training? Check that these match your organisation's training needs and the outcomes you want from the training.
Can the training be adapted/customised to meet individual organisational needs?
How long does the training go for?
How is the training conducted? Is it delivered in a class-room setting or is it activity based? Does this suit your participants?
What is the maximum number or people who can participate in the training at any one time?
How much does the training cost? Is this a fully inclusive cost? Is catering provided? Are training facilities provided or do you need to organise this?
Ask if the trainer can provide you with a referee. You may want to check that other organisations have had good experiences with the trainer. If you can find an organisation which delivers services similar to yours, or is in the same sector, even better.

Does the trainer have any experience in the volunteer sector?

Volunteering Australia also has a database for not-for-profit organisations who are looking for trainers at www.volunteeringaustralia.org/html/s02_article/article_view.asp?id=1199

Many of the organisations listed above who offer individual training can travel to country areas to train groups. Some training providers that offer training for groups of people are:

Group training for all community welfare services

The Centre for Community Welfare Training can also arrange customised training on a range of training on general welfare topics, across NSW. You can contact CCWT on (02) 9281 8822 or 1800 649 613 to have a free copy of their training handbook posted to you, or go to their website at www.acwa.asn.au/handbook

Group training for DoCS funded services

If there is a training need in your area that is not met by DoCS existing training calendar, you can ask for that training to be presented locally through their locally initiated training (LIT) program.

Click here for more details http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/DOCS/STANDARD/PC_100957.html

Group training for Sports organisations and clubs

The NSW Department of Sport and Recreation provides customised group training, where workshops are designed to your needs.

All DSR's training aims to improve the skills - whether beginner or advanced - of coaches, officials, athletes, teachers and/or administrators. You can find more information at the website at www.dsr.nsw.gov.au/training .