Future-proofing local government: strategies to address language, literacy and numeracy skills in the sector’s workforce

Abstract

The Future-Proofing Local Government: National Workforce Strategy 2013-2020, prepared and released in 2013 by Local Government Managers Australia on behalf of the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government, is designed to ensure that the local government sector moves towards a more sustainable workforce through effective attraction, retention and development programmes. One of the areas identified in the Strategy requiring further development and capacity building is that of language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) skills, which is a significant concern not just for the local government sector, but for the entire Australian workforce, as identified in the Industry Skills Councils’ 2011 report: No More Excuses. In response to the Strategy and the initiatives of local governments, this article addresses LLN implementation developments, as well as factors that could encourage councils without a LLN programme to develop and implement one. The discussion draws on survey research – based on a “planned behaviour” or “reasoned action” approach (Ajzen, 2006; Fishbein & Ajzen, 2010) – into council intentions concerning the development and implementation of LLN programmes as reported by their human resource managers. An aim is to assist councils by ideally enabling them systematically to address a key workforce issue as they seek to become more productive and effective institutions.