High staff turnover in the employment services sector and strategies to address this

For many years the Australian employment services industry has experienced a disproportionately high attrition rate among its staff despite being a purpose-led profession. This trend is concerning, given the industry’s role in connecting job seekers with suitable employment opportunities.
Parkhouse Bell has carried out research on this issue which has highlighted the potential drivers of this high attrition rate. The research potentially confirms what many leaders in the sector believe are the causes, but some additional findings came out of the research that provide food for thought.
This session will be of interest to those who are affected by high turnover in their organisation and those who would like information about the potential causes of this turnover as well as some strategies that can potentially address this.

Presenters

Mrs Helen McAnally Founder/Director, Parkhouse Bell, United Kingdom

Helen is the Founder, Owner and Director of Parkhouse Bell Australia, an Executive Search and Recruitment business that specialises in working with organisations that deliver government contracts in the areas of Employment Services, Disability Services / NDIS, Community Services, Vocational Education and Allied Health.

After a successful and enjoyable ten-year career in education in Australia, Helen set up Parkhouse Bell UK in London in 2006, closely followed by Parkhouse Bell Australia in 2007. Although Helen sold Parkhouse Bell UK in 2019 she maintains an active role in the Australian business and her experience and passion for recruitment, education, training, and business, enables her to work with senior clients and candidates in an insightful way.  Helen and the Parkhouse Bell team, work with clients and candidates across all roles in the Disability Employment sector from the frontline right through to the appointment of senior executives and CEOs.  Helen enjoys creating long-term relationships with the people she works with and brings an international perspective to the work carried out by Parkhouse Bell.

Through regular market research activities, Parkhouse Bell collects data that provides a unique insight into recurring themes across the sector such as staff attraction and retention, salary comparisons, and the market perception of providers.  This information is used to assist both clients with any reputational issues and candidates looking for their next career move.

Gil Sebbag National Sales Manager, Prime Super

Gil Sebbag is the National Sales Manager at Prime Super. He leads a team of specialists delivering the benefits of super and financial education in the workplace. Gil has more than 20 years’ experience in financial services, specialising in superannuation and insurance. Throughout his career, Gil has worked closely with large and small organisations to develop employee benefit programs and help employers drive employee engagement, productivity and retention.

Mr James Weait Company Director, Populi Solutions, Australia

James Weait is a highly experienced professional with close to two decades of experience in the employment services sector in Australia and the UK. Throughout his career, he has led a range of contracts covering generalist, disability, skills, and youth welfare, providing vital support to communities and individuals in need.

In 2019, James founded Populi Solutions, a company that specialises in delivering high quality, transformative training programs, project management consultation, performance uplift projects, and executive coaching services to employment service providers and other purpose-led companies. With a strong track record of success in this field, James has helped many organisations achieve their goals and make a positive impact in their communities.

In addition to his work with Populi Solutions, James also serves as a Board Member for Younity, a not-for-profit organisation helps individuals be healthy, happy and to thrive. He also serves as an Advisor to the Board for Parkhouse Bell, an industry-leading recruitment specialist.

James holds a bachelor’s degree, a Diploma of Leadership, and is an accredited DISC facilitator. He is a passionate advocate for the role that employment plays in reducing anxiety, building resilience, and promoting prosperity in local communities.

Dan Nicholls Director, Salary Packaging People

As Head of Customer Experience at The Salary Packaging People, Dan brings years of UK financial services & sales management experience to help deliver salary packaging services to customers all over Australia in a clear, open and transparent way. Whether your business is a charity, not-for-profit, health, education or corporate, delivering tax savings to hard working employees to help organisations recruit, reward & retain valuable people is Dan’s mission. TSPP supports employers to understand how a zero cost service can deliver an effective pay rise to employees by allowing them to use pre-tax dollars to fund everyday living expenses, eating in restaurants, staying in hotels, owning and running their own car or assisting with remote area living costs. The Salary Packaging People has been operating for 32 years from Geelong in Regional Victoria bringing our people focussed, responsive and comprehensive approach to businesses of any size, 1 employee upwards. These services are required as many employers have difficulty staying on top of these things, or are outdated/have little knowledge of the way in which these benefits work in 2023.

Dan emigrated to Geelong in 2013 with his wife and 3 daughters, what he lacks in height he makes up with his energy and passion for everything he does. Outside of work Dan is passionate about his family, young granddaughter and loves to explore his new adopted country. Both Dan and his wife have proudly visited every state and territory and developed a deep love for red wine!

Nunzia Confessore Strategic Consultant

As a visionary leader, Nunzia has had the privilege of 30 years’ experience across Australia and internationally including positions such as CEO, COO, GM and Head of Sales and Marketing across both not-for-profit and commercial sectors in service-based industries including government, employment, training, disability and community services.

These various roles throughout her career have required her to have strategic vision and a genuine desire to lead teams to achieve high level results and drive ongoing development.  She achieves this through establishing a common purpose, ensuring there is inclusion and communicating with a sense of humour.

Furthermore, Nunzia’s background enables her to offer a deeper understanding of economics, stakeholder engagement, government relations, corporate governance and financial management.

Nunzia believes her greatest achievements throughout her career have always been based on knowing that what she does every day helps change peoples’ lives by giving them dignity, social inclusion, purpose and independence.  This approach applies to her team members and her customers.

This was demonstrated through Nunzia’s most recent role as CEO of Joblife Employment where she lead a team to achieve an outcome whereby 49% of their workforce are living with a disability.

Nunzia’s passion and drive in achieving her vision stems from being an immigrant – her family came to Australia and instilled the belief in her that having an education and a job would provide you with the greatest opportunities in this country.