Annual Report 2018/19... · 2020-06-01 · The Personnel Group 2018/19 Annual Report 3 Highlights of 2018/19 23 DES contracts commenced on July 1 with an additional 1,000 people with

Annual Report 2018/191The Personnel Group 2018/19 Annual Report

BHAGThe right jobfor everyone

within 12months

OURVALUES

We are PASSIONATEWe are FAIR

We CHALLENGEthe status quo

OURPURPOSE

Creating EQUALITYthrough employment

OUR BRANDPROMISE

Right FIT

2The Personnel Group 2018/19 Annual Report


Highlights of 2018/19 23 DES contracts commenced on July 1 with an additional 1,000 people with a disability or mental health condition electing to receive their employment supports from TPG.

Assisted over 600 young people into either employment or education.

Transition to Work contract extended from 2020 to 2022.

Creation of new Service Delivery Model for Transition to Work – My Career Launchpad.

70 new team members joined the organisation.

Won Employer of Choice awards in Wagga Wagga and Albury/Wodonga Business Awards.

Won Most Outstanding Medium/Large Business awards in Griffith and Albury/Wodonga Business Awards.

Won Trainee of the Year in Wangaratta Business Awards.

Surplus returned for financial year against a budgeted loss.

Commenced new Australian Government program ParentsNext.

Successful completion of first Emerging Leaders program.

Successful in Tender to deliver the Australian Government’s Career Transition Assistance program from July 1, 2019.


Board of Directors

Executive Team

Edward Pitargue Chairperson Business Analyst, Viridis Ag

Carolyn Davis Dep. Chairperson Director HR, Wodonga TAFE

Jennefer McCrum Board and Life Member Accountant, BDS Huon

John Howe Board Member Senior Consultant, Advent Invent

Andrew Thomas Board Member Lawyer, Kell Moore

Paul Letson Board Member ICT Operations Manager, MCCC GP Training

Sally Squire Board Member Director Nursing & Midwifery Albury/Wodonga Health

Bryan Blake (Retired Oct 2018) Chairperson Director/Consultant, Cookinburra International

Debbie Lane (Retired Oct 2018) Business Development Manager, NSW Dept. of Premier & Cabinet

Tracey Fraser Chief Executive Officer

John Gibbons Chief Operations Officer

Wayne Williams Chief Financial Officer

NSWAlbury • Lavington • Corowa • Mulwala Queanbeyan • Griffith • Hay • Hillston Leeton • Wagga Wagga • Cootamundra Gundagai • Narrandera • Tumut • Bowral Moss Vale • Goulburn • Tahmoor • Yass Deniliquin • Finley • Berrigan • Barham Mathoura • Young • Khancoban • Harden Crookwell • Cooma • Braidwood Boorowa • Ashmont • Tolland • Kooringal Junee • Batemans Bay • Moruya Narooma • Kiama • Nowra • Ulladulla Vincentia • Corrimal • Dapto Shellharbour • Warilla • Wollongong

ACTCanberra • Belconnen

VictoriaEchuca • Kyabram • Shepparton Mooroopna • Eskdale • Tallangatta Walwa • Corryong • Benalla • Bright Kilmore • Mansfield • Myrtleford • Seymour Wallan • Wangaratta • Wodonga Beechworth • Rutherglen • Yarrawonga Cobram • Bendigo • Castlemaine Gisborne • Heathcote • Kyneton Eaglehawk • Maryborough • Wedderburn

Regions serviced in 2018/19

58% of TPG staffare female.

42% of TPG staffare male.



The Chair’s and CEO’s Annual Report2018/19 was an amazingly successful year for TPG when considering our major business activity and revenue source, the Disability Employment Services program, was now working in an open, competitive market environment. We openly and thankfully support the government’s decision with regard to this major industry change – allowing people with a disability or mental health condition true choice in from which provider services are received.

July 1, 2018 saw a changing geographic and programmatic approach to supporting vulnerable jobseekers in our communities.

TPG took the opportunity to expand services in the Disability

Employment space, opening multiple offices in 4 new regions, Bendigo, Wollongong, Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla. Success in existing regions with the allocation of complimentary DES streams allows TPG to offer employment support services to any referred jobseeker with a disability or mental health condition.

The Transition to Work program (delivered in partnership with CoAct) thrived with the team’s performance continuing to exceed department expectations. This program for young people aged 15 – 21 who haven’t achieved year 12, offers one year of support, and requires TPG to achieve performance outcomes 25% higher than those of local Jobactive providers.



July 1 also saw the implementation of a ParentsNext contract across the ACT, Queanbeyan, Goulburn and surrounding regions. ParentsNext offers individuals on parenting payments the opportunity to commence looking at their employment future, linking activities to build their individual capacities and capabilities. TPG again has been the provider of choice, with our caseload increasing to supporting some 500 individuals within the first six months of the contract. Logistically this program has brought its challenges, with many small outreach towns across this region being supported by our five team members.

The year ended with TPG holding the following contracts:

23 Disability Employment Service contracts across 11 Employment Service Areas.

1 ParentsNext contract in an expanded Employment Region.

2 Transition to Work contracts in expanded Employment Regions.

5 Australia Post contracts.

3 Assisted School Travel contracts.

1 National Panel of Assessors contract across 5 expanded Employment Regions.

Our success in these contracts across the year was solely due to the clarity and commitment of our team members.

As a growing organisation, with over 70 new people commencing across the year, induction, ongoing training and mentoring support was vital to our success. A renewed Induction process to fast track skills and knowledge development was implemented, and has shown great results. The implementation of our Service Delivery Model has provided all team members with enhanced understanding of programs, deliverables and expected performance. Creating a continuing, calm environment for success was paramount and needed to be balanced with ensuring that all teams were cognisant of and included in the future goals and directions of the organisation.


The Board guided the Executive Team to set the long term direction of the organisation, with the key themes being:

Engaged high performing teams across footprint.

Consistency in service delivery.

Create financial and time efficiencies through the use of technology.

Strengthen our culture as we scale.

Establish our differentiation in the marketplace.

Enacting these strategies, led to:

A surplus of over $300,000.

Approximately 1000 DES participants commencing employment.

An additional 1000+ participants choosing to receive DES services from TPG.

Over 600 TtW participants commencing employment or education.

The organisation’s drive to be innovative was also evident in:

Delivering a very successful major youth initiative – Shining a Light on Me.

New technology enhancing internal processes including claims management, vehicle management and IT support.

The successful pilot of an internal Emerging Leaders program.

The implementation of Optus Loop across the business.

TPG firmly believes that well trained, resourced and ethically focused employees are the key to the many successful outcomes we achieve for our clients.

Despite the significant financial commitment required of $800,000 in achieving the Board’s expansion goals, TPG continues to be in a very strong financial position, returning a surplus of $320,000 for the year. Staffing at TPG increased from 115 to 150 over the course of the year.


Broader public acknowledgement of TPG’s practices and performance were reflected in gaining industry awards across the year, including:

Employer of Choice, Wagga Wagga Business Awards

Best Medium/Large Business, Griffith Business Awards

Trainee of the Year, Wangaratta Business Awards

Employer of Choice, Albury Wodonga Business Awards

Best Medium/Large Business, Albury Wodonga Business Awards

Ongoing net promoter score in excess of +80 from participants

Finally, we would like to acknowledge TPG’s amazing, committed team and thank them for their continual dedication and passion to achieving quality outcomes for our clients and employers. We also thank TPG’s dedicated Board who have overseen another successful year delivering strong guidance and support to the management team. Without their dedication and support, TPG would not be able to achieve its continued exceptional results.

July 1, 2019 will see further program expansion with TPG being the successful provider to deliver the Australian Government’s Career Transition Assistance program across its whole footprint.

Edward Pitargue Tracey Fraser Chairperson Chief Executive Officer



Hearing 1%

Speech 0%

Specific Learning/ADD 4%

Psychiatric 43%

Physical 32%

Neurological 6%

Intellectual 5%

Vision 1%

Unknown/Not Stated 1%

Deafblind (Dual Sensory) 0%

Autism 5%

Acquired brain injury 2%

TOTAL 100%

Employment by Industry

Hospitality 20%

Transport 3%

Trades/Assistant 8%

Service 33%

Retail 12%

Other 5%

Manufacturing 6%

Education 5%

Agricultural 5%

Administration 2%

TOTAL 100%

Primary Disability



2018/2019 was a year of growth for our DES team, with expansion into new areas of Bendigo, Wollongong, Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla significantly increasing The Personnel Group’s footprint. With DES clients now able to more easily move to a provider of their choice, we saw an unprecedented number of people choose to access their services with The Personnel Group. TPGs caseload grew by around 700 clients, making it one of the largest providers in Regional Australia.

With more people to support, TPG increased the number of employment placements achieved for its clients. Over 950 placements were commenced, with many of these placements supported through to outcome milestones, and eventually to clients becoming independent of TPG’s service.

TPG worked with more than 3000 employers, many of whom employed a person with a disability for the first time. Educating and empowering employers to become disability confident, and to understand the benefits of employing someone with a disability or mental health condition is a key part of TPG’s employer strategies.

The Personnel Group continued to utilise, refine and improve its ‘My Future, My Choice’ service delivery model. This model sees participants given a highly active, highly engaging service that gives them the best chance of being placed into employment quickly. This model is evidenced to get better outcomes for participants, but also to improve participant’s experience of DES servicing.

Disability Employment Services (DES)


The Personnel Group, in partnership with national organisation CoAct, has completed its third year delivering Transition to Work with continued excellent results. This year TPG supported approximately 750 participants and achieved over 350 outcomes in either employment or education.

TtW aims to re-engage unemployed young people between the ages of 15 - 21 who have not achieved year 12. The Personnel Group provides assistance to young jobseekers in Griffith, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Wodonga, Wangaratta, Benalla and Yarrawonga with 11 staff providing this service.

This year The Personnel Group implemented its ‘My Career Launchpad’ service delivery model which encourages our staff to deliver a highly engaging, enticing and motivating service to our participants. This Is done to achieve TtW’s aim of supporting participants to move towards employment or education by engaging them in beneficial education, training, work tasters, work experience, or social integration.

The Personnel Group utilises engagement events to link clients with employers or education providers. These events usually involve a workplace tour and talk, and an opportunity for clients to learn about potential directions. TPG participates in a large number of youth engagement activities aimed at exposing clients to potential careers, including career expos, school presentations, and other major events.

Transition to Work Program (TtW)

Education is a critical part of client’s development, so The Personnel Group has arranged a number of courses with local education providers that link client interests with local labour market and skills shortages. This means that participants can develop skills that can easily translate to employment in their local region.


The Personnel Group, in partnership with national organisation CoAct, have been successful in being awarded contracts to deliver the Career Transition Assistance training program across its footprint. This program is aimed at supporting mature aged jobseekers to develop skills that will allow them to re-enter the workforce.

This program will commence in the coming financial year, will initially employ 7 team members, and support more than 600 participants in its first year.

The Personnel Group commenced delivering Parent’s Next services during the 2018 / 2019 year. This program is aimed at supporting stay at home parents to prepare to re-engage with the workforce. The Personnel Group was awarded this contract in the Capital Region – providing services to Canberra, Queanbeyan, Yass, Young, Goulburn, Braidwood, Cooma, Crookwell, Harden & Boorowa.

TPG were overwhelmed by the positive take-up of this program with more than 800 people referred to the program. Participants are supported to identify activities that can prepare them to re-enter the workforce, whilst being considerate of their current circumstances and challenges.

The PN team is staffed by 6 team members, who have supported the majority of referred clients to assess their current level of work-readiness and develop a plan that improves their preparedness to return to work.

Parents Next (PN) Career Transition Assistance (CTA)



Australia Post Contracts

The Personnel Group retains five Australia Post contracts across North East Victoria. These contracts operate as a social enterprise providing employment opportunities for people with a disability or mental health condition.

Employs 12 people and a TPG Supervisor.

Staff are supported by a DES Workplace Support Consultant.

Work entails sorting and delivery of mail and parcels in the five contract areas.

Provides opportunities for participants to develop good workplace practices, workplace health and safety knowledge and portable employment skills.

Ancillary Activity NDIS

The Personnel Group trialed a NDIS School Leaver Employment Service in the Wangaratta and Benalla regions. As a trial, we supported young people with one on one programs building their capacity to eventually seek the key component of the SLES program – work experience. Our learnings from this year long trial, will be used to build a scalable program across our footprint in the coming years.

National Panel of Assessors

July 1 saw The Personnel Group re-commence providing these assessment services across all regions. Services provided include Supported Wage Assessments, Ongoing Support Assessments and Workplace Modification Assessments. This program has enabled two internal team members the opportunity to undertake additional responsibilities and link with new potential employers. This program employs six on call team members.

Assisted School Travel

The Personnel Group took up four contracts with the NSW Department of Education to provide transport to and from school for primary school students with a disability. These contracts provided employment opportunities for six jobseekers across the year.



Customer Service How likely are you to recommend The Personnel Group to colleagues and friends?

At The Personnel Group, we actively seek feedback to improve our services.

Over 30,000 jobseeker appointments were conducted across the year, and on each occasion our jobseekers are asked to voluntarily provide feedback using the Rate It online portal. Feedback gathered from Rate It, along with input from jobseekers participating in our annual National Standards for Disability Services review day, informs improved service delivery. TPG uses the internationally endorsed, Net Promoter Score as our analysis tool for gauging jobseeker satisfaction. Using the key question of “how likely are you to recommend TPG to colleagues and friends”, which provides a meaningful evaluation of an individual’s experience in their dealings with TPG, our jobseekers consistently reward the organisation with +85 rating.

2018/19 saw a new, innovative way for employers and service providers to show their satisfaction and commitment to the Purpose of The Personnel Group. The introduction of our Community Champions program endorsed by and subscribed to by over 600 employers and service providers supports the participation of all these businesses in our ongoing conversation and business deliverables. Coupled with this program, The Personnel Group continued to conduct its very successful Business Builders Lunches across our footprint. Employer participation in these events continues to be high and feedback on topics delivered and the ability to network has been very positive.

88%

2%

10%

86RateItParticipantFeedback

65%26%

9%

57

74

77.06%

19.41%

3.53%

ServiceProviderSurvey

EmployerSurvey


Documents

Annual Report 2018/19... · 2020-06-01 · The Personnel Group 2018/19 Annual Report 3 Highlights of 2018/19 23 DES contracts commenced on July 1 with an additional 1,000 people with