Supporting the Department of Education to deliver Skills First
The brief
The Higher Education and Skills group at the Department of Education (now at the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions) had worked hard to develop and launch Skills First in Victoria. Following the launch, a range of challenges and opportunities were identified to better prepare the Group to deliver its significant reform agenda.
The challenge
This included work to embed governance frameworks and build a culture to drive accountability across the Group, particularly at the leadership level. The Group also required a realignment of roles and responsibilities, and Group structure to better support delivery of the reform agenda, along with a change plan to drive performance.
The approach
We worked with the Group over 18 months to test and validate the case for realignment, develop a new operating model and structure, and provide leadership and culture change support to develop the right behaviours in the Group.
This included working closely with the leadership team to build a cohesive culture across HES and enhance a range of manager capabilities. We also introduced the Four Rooms of Change® across the whole group to 300 people, a psychological model that helps individuals and teams navigate change. SenateSHJ is one of the few accredited users of the model in Australia.
The outcomes: A new brand identity and website
The introduction of the change program, structure and operating model reduced complexity and confusion. It also supported development of the right behaviours and a common language to create a high performing team, and drive culture change across the Group.
Prior to this work, staff could see conflict, including how leaders undermined each other. But because of this work, staff reported the leadership team, and thus the Group, coalesced as shown by improved People Matter results.
The work undertaken by SenateSHJ was able to reveal tensions within and across the leadership team, helping to change behaviours and bring them together. If the leadership group had not come together because of this work, one of the most important reforms of the skills-based system, one which was well received by the government and community, would not have come to pass – Free TAFE.
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