Tasmania’s largest and newly renamed disability services provider is set to triple its workforce over the next four years.
This challenging prospect comes as the Minister for Human Services, Jacquie Petrusma, today launched the new name – Possability – for the organisation formerly known as Optia Inc.
As the National Disability Insurance Scheme trial in Tasmania clocks up its second anniversary, Possability CEO, Glenn Campbell, says the name change is another key step in the organisation’s readiness for the new competitive environment.
“It’s an exciting time for NDIS participants, carers, service providers and workers.
“When the full roll out of the scheme begins on 1 July 2016, national spending will triple over three years, and we forecast a similar increase in demand for services and staff.”
Mr. Campbell says the new name was chosen to represent the organisation’s focus on people’s strengths and abilities, making goals possible and celebrating personal achievements.
“The new name and brand will establish a strong foundation to market the organisation to both potential clients and employees.”
Mr Campbell says a Workforce Plan has been developed to ensure that Possability can recruit the quality and quantity of staff needed to expand services over coming years.
“We currently have 200 full time equivalent (FTE) staff and will need to more than triple that number to 667 FTE – and that’s just maintaining our current market share in Tasmania.”
This represents 722 new full-time and part-time jobs over four years.
Possability’s Workforce Plan includes:
- Increasing the age, gender, cultural diversity of employees
- Recruiting staff from declining sectors such as forestry and mining, and retraining
- Becoming an Employer of Choice
- Recruiting based on values and personal qualities
- Delivering more in-house training and qualifications.