The community services sector in Australia plays an essential role in enabling individuals and communities to reach their full potential. However, the sector is experiencing increasing challenges in attracting and retaining workers, which will be compounded as the demand on the sector grows, driven by an ageing Australian population and the demand for high-quality services. 

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety identified critical systemic failures, demanding immediate action on working conditions and quality of care. Against this background, this research sought to understand the barriers and enablers of a sustainable workforce. 

The research focused on aged care and youth worker roles. While a dominant perception of limited career prospects, low pay and low status deters some people from joining the sector, the opportunity to help others was identified as a point of attraction. To further support attraction to the sector, the study highlights the enduring importance of job security over other aspects. 

Key findings

• Job security is key not only for workforce attraction but also to increase the representation of men in this highly feminised industry.
• While experimenting with flexible work arrangements can be an avenue for attracting workers, the sector is not best placed to be a ‘disruptor’, as introducing radical innovations presents significant practical challenges.
• While providing concrete pathways for career development and adequate organisational support is key for retaining staff, organisations need to carefully tailor their job advertisements to avoid inadvertently signalling job stress.
• Qualification barriers could be addressed by exploring models that combine employment with paid training and by finding pathways that recognise lived experience and transferable skills from other sectors.