Do you ever feel like there just aren't enough hours in the day? Mounting caseloads, staff shortage and ever-growing to-do list! You're not alone.
Australia’s social services and family service industry has been experiencing significant staff shortages in recent years. The industry is responsible for providing critical support to some of the most vulnerable members of our society. However, the lack of skilled and experienced workers in the field is putting immense pressure on the industry and placing huge demands on social services employees.
The high demands and heavy caseloads that workers face can lead to significant stress and burnout. Social workers often work long hours, juggling multiple cases and complex situations that require careful attention and decision-making. This can result in emotional exhaustion, physical fatigue, and feelings of overwhelm, which can impact their ability to provide effective care. Additionally, the emotional toll of working with vulnerable populations and addressing difficult social issues can exacerbate stress levels. It is essential for organisations and leaders in the social work field to address the stress of caseloads and support social workers with resources, tools, and strategies to manage stress and prevent burnout.
Why are you feeling this way?
Federal government data shows job vacancies for social workers have almost doubled since the start of the pandemic, while the Australian Association of Social Workers says the sector will need to grow by 15 per cent in the next three years to meet demand, but recent job data shows that this demand is not being met and staff shortages are being felt across the industry. Over the past two years, social care agencies have experienced an average social worker turnover rate of about 20+per cent, with many leaving the sector due to mandatory covid vaccinations and burnout.
This unfortunately is not going get better anytime soon, with recent graduate's data showing that students are following different paths of higher paying jobs with less stress.
While at One Future we might not be able to solve everything, we do currently have availability to help with the following services if you need any supports;
If you need a quote/referral to outsource work to us, click on the refer button below.
Or, for a confidential discussion, please do not hesitate to contact me directly 02 6678 2181
Warmest regards,
Catherine Payne
