The industry training organisation that has been putting around 1000 central government workers through workplace learning programmes each year is now looking after the local government and civil defence sectors too.
On April 1, the Local Government Industry Training Organisation or LGITO ceased operating and its work was taken over by the public sector ITO, Learning State. The organisation was formerly part of the State Services Commission but was created as a separate Crown company on July 1 last year. It currently sets skills and qualifications standards for more than 4000 public sector employees from 50 or more central government agencies.
State Services Minister Tony Ryall says New Zealanders “are right to expect high levels of service and professionalism from local and central government.
“Learning State will now help local authority employees develop their skills to strengthen the level of service to ratepayers,” the Minister said, adding that Learning State will arrange training for staff who work in local authorities in areas such as mediation, compliance, and business administration.
Learning State’s chief executive Michelle Manley recently expressed delight at the Tertiary Education Commission’s recent decision to extend the company’s coverage to include local government.
“As the new industry training organisation for this important sector, Learning State will be working with local councils in coming months to help them build the skills they need to provide excellent customer service and perform their functions to the highest skill levels.
She acknowledged “clear and obvious differences between the roles played by local and central government” but said the recent earthquakes in Canterbury demonstrated just how interlinked the two are when it comes to ensuring the wellbeing of communities.
A spokeswoman for Learning State said the organisation has a close working relationship with Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) and the Society for Local Government Managers (SOLGM).
She said staff from Learning State have begun visiting councils to discuss their needs and views on training and qualifications for the sector.
There had been no increase in staff numbers at Learning State following the change, she said, given that there is already a local government qualifications framework in place and the process will involve improvement and fine-tuning of that existing framework.
Information provided by the company says its workplace learning programmes cover a range of topics that lead to the achievement of nationally recognised tertiary qualifications.
Subjects have included customer service, core public sector skills, public-sector Maori, management and leadership, business administration and computing.
The company says workplaces are increasingly taking the lead in providing tertiary learning opportunities for New Zealanders, with around 180,000 people and around 35,000 businesses and organisations currently involved in industry skill development.
In terms of its work with the central government sector, Learning State has worked with agencies to identify a workplace learning approach that best meets the needs of the organisation and the employee.
Generally, a structured workplace learning programme will comprise a mix of on-the-job learning, workshops, mentoring and coaching, and self-directed assignments. Learning State also arranges for employees to be assessed on their skills and knowledge – helping them to achieve their National Certificate or Diploma.
Structured workplace learning programmes are an acknowledged way of improving performance and productivity. In fact, a report by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research shows that staff are likely to be 5 to 20 per cent more productive after workplace learning than they otherwise would have been.