Building a resilient and sustainable workforce for the future

The community services sector plays a vital role in supporting Australians across aged care, health, housing, and disability services. As demand for these services continues to grow, especially with an ageing population, the need to build a sustainable, skilled, and diverse workforce is becoming increasingly important.

Anglicare Southern Queensland partnered with The University of Queensland’s Centre for Policy Futures to explore innovative workforce strategies that support long-term sector sustainability.

This exploratory research has drawn on mixed methods to identify practical, future-focused employment models. The project was designed to inform new approaches to recruitment and retention, elevate the public perception of care work, and enhance career pathways — helping ensure a strong and valued workforce for years to come.

The project report, and our recent webinar, reveal a complex interplay of factors influencing individuals’ decisions to enter and remain in front-line community services sector roles.