Workforce overview

We are committed to ensuring our staff have the skills, knowledge and resources to support customers reach their potential and achieve their goals.

This year, our workforce numbers increased when compared to last year. Our Full Time Equivalents (FTE) increased most substantially from last year (16% increase) while headcount increased by only 6.6%. This demonstrates that Northcott has used staff more efficiently and effectively over the course of the year.

Our permanent staff attrition rate for the 12 months ending June 2024 is 16.6%, a decrease on the previous year (19.15%). This decrease was significant in the first half of the financial year, with five consecutive months of reducing turnover. This resulted in turnover reaching its lowest mark during the year – 16.3% in November 2023. Since December 2023 until June 2024 the turnover has been fairly steady, with a slight upward trend. This figure is also much lower than the industry average, as per AON Hewitt Remuneration report which has Community and Social Services turnover rate of 26.2%. Our frontline worker turnover rate is much lower (as per NDIS Workforce census report). Permanent frontline turnover for Northcott is 12% (compared to industry average of 32%) and Casual Frontline Turnover is 33% (compared to industry average of 48%).

We continued to offer flexible work practices and other employee benefits to attract and retain staff. We also provide access to learning and development programs so our team members can develop and nurture their professional skills.

Workplace Health and Safety

This year, Northcott made significant strides in enhancing workplace safety by developing and implementing multiple Work Health and Safety (WHS) plans. We did this to ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations while prioritising the wellbeing of Northcott workers. By aligning these plans with the Northcott Work Health and Safety Management Framework, we demonstrated our commitment to fostering a safe and secure environment for all employees.

A crucial aspect of this initiative involved enhancing the skills of frontline managers in reducing injury risks, intervening early, and promptly reporting incidents. There was a strong emphasis on promoting our workers’ mental health and addressing their emotional responses to incidents.

Northcott Wellbeing Program

Our Northcott Injury Management Specialists have overseen the Wellbeing Program, focused on fostering a mentally healthy workplace environment for all employees. The main goal of the Wellbeing Program has been to offer support to staff impacted by incidents such as the passing of a customer or involvement in critical situations.

Incident Reporting

This year there was a renewed focus on incident reporting, particularly in relation to raising awareness about including all staff present during incidents in reports. This aimed to capture a comprehensive view of incidents and enhance the wellbeing of staff who may have had an emotional response to an incident.

Throughout the year, the WHS team actively encouraged managers and employees to use the reporting system promptly whenever incidents occurred, emphasising its potential benefits for all stakeholders.

The team also placed a strong emphasis on early intervention and the improvement of injury management systems and processes, with the goal of reducing injury severity and shortening absenteeism periods.

The introduction of Noggin 2.0 (the next version of our risk management platform) has enhanced the ability of frontline staff to promptly and effortlessly notify the business of incidents involving physical or emotional responses among staff.

Workplace safety audits

This year’s workplace safety audits focused on high-risk and critical sites, as determined through consultation with the Quality Assurance team.

Audits ensure that each site conducts thorough risk assessments for their essential tasks. This year, there was a focus on evaluating and reinforcing compliance with safety training protocols.

By concentrating on these fundamental aspects, the WHS team effectively underscored the critical importance of regularly assessing risks inherent in everyday tasks. This proactive approach not only emphasised the significance of maintaining a safe work environment but also aimed to empower workers with the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance their work practices.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Inclusion Fest

We held our first-ever “Inclusion Fest”, a week-long celebration of the different aspects of staff diversity across Northcott. On day one, we hosted a live watch party to launch our video “Celebrating Diversity: The Northcott Story.” In this video, staff members share how it feels to know their diversity – be that age, gender, disability or culture – is valued and welcomed at Northcott.

Cultural Connect

We set up Cultural Connect, a staff network to connect employees from culturally diverse backgrounds and celebrate multiculturalism at Northcott.

Learning and Development

Our Values

Our Values continue to guide us, and our latest Employee Engagement Survey results showed that our employees continue to believe in them.

Future Ready Program

We provide our staff with access to a range of quality learning interventions so they can upskill and continue their professional development journey.

In April we launched the Future Ready Program for our next generation of leaders. This structured, eight-month program aims to equip staff with the skills and knowledge needed to advance their careers within Northcott. There are 32 aspiring service coordinators and future service managers in the first cohort of participants. One activity for the participants was a face-to-face gathering with cultural immersion specialist Maria Williams, a Wiradjuri Elder, to learn more about respecting the cultural values of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Employee of the Year 2023

Shyam

Congratulations to Shyam Kurukulage who was awarded Employee of the Year in December 2023.

Shyam has been with Northcott since 2013 when he started as a support worker at our disability home on Yallambee Ct in Baulkham Hills.

Shyam is a quietly spoken, respectful and patient support worker. He has an in-depth understanding of his customers and is consistently the calm voice of reason that our customers respect, need and appreciate.

Beyond his role, Shyam has poured his heart into transforming the house into a home. Starting with a stunning feature wall at the entrance, and then revamping the customers’ rooms, to their changing needs and preferences.
Shyam really wanted his customers to feel proud of their home. He used his lunch breaks and free time to make the house feel more welcoming and comfortable for them. It’s not just the customers who recognise Shyam’s touch.

The customers’ families are repeatedly asking to pass on their thanks and gratitude for all that he does for them.

Shyam continuously demonstrates the Northcott Values in his role and consistently looks for ways to improve the life of his customers.