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“The workplace in Australia in the last decade has undergone a process of dramatic change. These changes are due to a combination of economic, social, environmental, political and technological factors. Work patterns are changing and Human Resource Management issues are becoming increasingly important”
•Changes in employment patterns and opportunities (e.g. Job sharing
Increased part-time/casual employment, outsourcing/working from home)
•Globalisation
•OHS&W / Risk management standards
•Training and Development
•Technology
•Youth employment
•An aging population and a declining birth rate
•Social justice issues
•Reform of the Australian Industrial Relations laws
•The role of unions
What would be the best way to approach and structure this? I need to respond to at least four points.
here are three to get you started:
AGING POPULATION AND BIRTH RATE
An ageing population puts enormous pressure on the economy. The older the population, the fewer the people to support older Australians in retirement.
Elderly and retired Australians receive benefits from the Government in the form of pensions and other financial concessions. These benefits are funded from the money the Government collects in tax, some of it income tax from working Australians. In an ageing population, the number of people retiring and claiming benefits is increasing, and the number of new workers entering the workforce will eventually decline. So there are fewer people to support more retirees.
The Government hopes to reduce the impact of the ageing population by encouraging workers to retire later and women to have more children. An increase in the birthrate would help decrease the median age and the stresses an ageing population place on the economy. If the downward trend continues, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has projected average births per woman could fall from 1.75 to as low as 1.4 by 2011.
Will financial incentives boost the birth rate?
In the federal budget handed down two weeks ago, Treasurer Peter Costello included some financial incentives for Australians to have more children. The Government has increased the family tax benefit, and introduced a $3000 maternity payment for new mothers. It will rise to $5000 by 2008. The Government hopes these financial bonuses will help boost the birth rate by making it easier for people to afford a family.
Some population experts are doubtful. They say similar pro-baby policies overseas have failed to result in more children.
Others say the reasons for the low birth rate are complex and cannot be dealt with by money alone. For good or bad, society has changed. More women are in the workforce, and it can be difficult for people to balance work and families. Australians are marrying later in life. As a result, those who do decide to start a family are having their first child later, and having fewer offspring. Some even say the reduced birth rate is the result of social anxiety.
Others have suggested the answer to our ageing population is increased immigration, rather than expensive and possibly fruitless attempts to increase birth rates.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) was created on 3 December 2007, bringing together elements of the former Departments of Education, Science and Training, Employment and Workplace Relations and the Youth and Early Childhood functions from the Department of Family, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
The department implements government policies and programs to provide education and training opportunities for all Australians, to increase employment participation and to ensure fair and productive workplaces. Education, training and workforce participation are central to our goal of building a productive and socially inclusive nation, one which values diversity and provides opportunities for all Australians to build rewarding social and economic lives.
http://www.dest.gov.au/ (for more information).
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
A $24 million four-year program is helping to create short-term employment opportunities and establish vocational education and training benefiting up to 70,000 young people.
Australia will also develop a youth employment policy that will assist the country's youth transition from school to work.
Speaking from East Timor, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, said greater social and economic stability were two of the expected benefits of the initiative.
'The unemployment rate among young urban males is currently 43 per cent. By enhancing education and skills training and supporting labour intensive employment programs we aim to get more young people into jobs and contribute to the long-term social and economic stability of East Timor', Mr McMullan said.
Mr McMullan also launched the implementation of Australia's five year $28 million justice program to build more effective, accountable justice institutions and improve access for the most vulnerable and marginalised groups.
The funds are being used to develop effective management and administration systems in key justice agencies. Activities include a juvenile justice initiative, improved support for victims of domestic violence, district justice initiatives and support to traditional systems for resolving disputes.
Australia is also providing $23 million over four years to help East Timor to implement its national health plan and improve basic health and hospital services across the country.
The project is a partnership with the World Bank and East Timor's Ministry of Health. Australia is also supporting an $850,000 study to identify barriers to health care services and inform appropriate policy responses.
The national health plan focuses on improving basic health and hospital services and aims to build capacity across the health sector to help East Timor achieve its Millennium Development Goals for health.
IBAT - Institute of Business & Technology
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