Growing the workforce

The social service sector needs thousands more workers to meet growing demand. Employers want skilled workers and in the current economic environment foregoing a wage to undertake training - even for a short amount of time - is not an option for many. WIDI has been working with the sector and government to meet immediate workforce needs and build capability by combining education and training with paid work. "Earn and learn" models such as traineeships and higher apprenticeships benefit employers by increasing their capacity and benefit workers by offering the ability to gain skills and qualifications while continuing to earn a wage to support themselves and their families.