Corporate initiatives

Learning and Development

To achieve the selected priorities of the Corporate Plan, a DHA-wide Learning and Development (L&D) strategy is being prepared. Integral to its success is the adoption of best practice approaches to the management of L&D across DHA, including:

• design, development and delivery of DHA priority training needs
• establishment of an e-learning and learning management system, and
• establishment of linkages between training, capability development and performance.

In addition to the preparation of the L&D strategy, DHA has delivered important initiatives in 2012–13:

• development of a new suite of induction resources and guides to assist managers in welcoming new staff to DHA
• provision of an Inspired Service program focused on enhanced customer service and targeted at staff working with internal and external customers
• provision of nationally accredited training at the Certificate IV and Diploma level (at 30 June 2013, 34% of DHA’s employees have participated and, of these employees, 47% have achieved a qualification)
• delivery of effective performance feedback training and the development of a supporting toolkit aimed at frontline to middle management level
• acquisition of a new Learning Management System, allowing for the provision of electronic learning modules
• delivery of training and development workshops to assist regional offices and business units in building staff capability
• delivery of national training that targets identified administrative and operational issues, and
• delivery of capability building development solutions as identified in individual Performance Development Agreements.

The delivered L&D initiatives have provided staff with new skills and enhanced capabilities, resulting in more efficient ways of working and assisting in maximising staff potential.

Rewards and recognition

DHA rewards staff achievement through:

• WOW Awards providing staff with the opportunity to recognise their colleagues’ accomplishments
• Service awards for five, 10, 15 and 20 years of employment with DHA, and
• Annual Awards for Excellence for exceptional individual staff performance in their respective business units.

Table 3: Annual Awards for Excellence 2012

Staff wellness program

In 2013, DHA started to develop a new staff wellness program. While DHA already has a number of established health and wellbeing initiatives such as the Quit Smoking Assistance Program, the Employee Assistance Program, eye health in the workplace and flu vaccinations, DHA’s aim is that the new program will offer a more holistic and personal approach.

To assist DHA in developing the new program, staff were invited to participate in an online Personal Health Assessment (PHA) and a Cardiac Risk Assessment (CRA) consultation. DHA has successfully delivered both the PHA and CRA to staff and while participation in these programs was voluntary, over 70% of staff participated in the PHA and more than 60% of staff attended a CRA consultation.

The data from these initiatives will enable DHA to get a better understanding of what health and wellbeing means to staff, and will help inform the type of programs DHA will implement in the future.

DHA Apprenticeship Support Scheme

The DHA Apprenticeship Support Scheme (DASS) is in its fourth year of operation. The program has supported up to 22 apprentices in trades across Australia. This year, DHA celebrated the graduation of another nine apprentices, bringing the total number of apprentices graduating under the scheme to 11. Due to the success of the program, DHA has decided to extend the scheme and fund current apprentices for a further year, until June 2014.

Whole-of-Government contracts and arrangements

In 2012–13, DHA entered into several Whole-of-Government contracts and arrangements for the provision of corporate goods and services. These new agreements included stationery and office supplies, legal services and vehicle leasing, and are in addition to DHA’s existing agreements for travel and electricity.

The new stationery and office supplies arrangement took effect on 4 March 2013 and provides DHA with access to lower prices for stationery and office supplies, use of an online ordering system and enhanced reporting and service support.

DHA’s new leased vehicle arrangement commenced in February 2013. DHA’s leased vehicle fleet will transition to the new arrangement over the next 12 months. Under the new contract DHA will benefit from reduced fleet costs, up-to-date fleet reports and customisation of services. For the first time, DHA vehicles will have the option of additional features, including fitting of electronic log books to record vehicle use and vehicle signage to promote DHA.

In October 2012, DHA accessed the Legal Services Multi Use List (LSMUL) for the provision of legal services. The LSMUL provides DHA with access to an extensive list of legal service providers and information on their performance.