Hi Rebecca, welcome to the September edition of Bloom News.
I hope you've had a great month.
This edition is a special one for the Bloom team. Last week, we were incredibly proud to be named the winner of the Employer of Choice Award at the NSW Business Awards for the Sydney region. Of all the categories we were finalists in, this is the one that means the most to us. Full details are below!
This month, we're also celebrating our new membership withSECNA, highlighting some important workforce and housing sector updates, and bringing you the latest Fair Work developments through our monthly Fair Work Friday wrap-up.
You'll also find upcoming events, training opportunities, our current vacancies, this month's hot candidates, and a spotlight on our recruitment services, which continue to support organisations across the not-for-profit, community, government and social impact sectors to find exceptional talent.
Thank you, as always, for being part of the Bloom community. Have a great month ahead.
All the best,
Natalie and the Bloom HR team
Bloom News
Employer of Choice at the NSW Business Awards
NSW Business Awards Recognition for Bloom HR
We could not be happier to share that we have been named the winner of the Employer of Choice Award at the NSW Business Awards for the Sydney region.
Last Thursday evening, our CEO Natalie was at Sydney town hall to receive the award from Business NSW. Of all categories that we were finalists in, this is the one that means the most to us. The Employer of Choice Award recognises organisations that create supportive, engaging and rewarding workplaces where people can thrive. As a consultancy that works with organisations every day to build great workplace cultures, being recognised for our own people practices is very special.
This achievement reflects the culture we have worked hard to create, one built on trust, flexibility, development, wellbeing and genuine care for our team.
In addition to taking home the Employer of Choice Award, we were also shortlisted for the Outstanding Business Leader Award and Excellence in Small Business Award, making it an exciting evening and a wonderful recognition of the work our team continues to do.
The next stop is the state-wide awards in October.
Wish us luck!
Pictured above: Bloom HR CEO Natalie Carrington (second from left) with the Sydney Region award winners.
SECNA exists to connect, champion and advocate for social enterprises, helping businesses with a social purpose collaborate, share knowledge, influence policy and create positive community impact. SECNA supports a growing network of social enterprises through events, mentoring, resources and opportunities to engage with government, business and community stakeholders.
As a business dedicated to supporting not-for-profits, charities, community organisations and purpose-driven employers, becoming a SECNA member is a natural fit. Membership provides valuable opportunities to connect with organisations that are addressing social, environmental and community challenges through innovative business models.
We look forward to contributing to the SECNA community, building new partnerships, sharing insights, and continuing to support organisations that are creating positive outcomes for the communities they serve. We will be joining the SECNA team at their Social Enterprise Festival on 13 and 14 November in Sydney, further details within sector events later in the newsletter.
To learn more about SECNA and its work supporting the social enterprise sector, visit the SECNA website.
Sector News
Q Shelter Workforce Survey
Q Shelter is currently seeking input from housing, homelessness and broader human services organisations through its latest Workforce Survey.
The survey aims to build a clearer understanding of the sector's current workforce, future workforce needs, and the challenges organisations are experiencing in areas such as recruitment and retention, workforce wellbeing, capability development and professional development.
The findings will help inform future sector capacity-building initiatives, workforce planning and advocacy with government and other key stakeholders. Q Shelter encourages participation from specialist housing and homelessness services, as well as other human services organisations supporting people experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness.
The survey takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and participants can choose to enter a draw to win one of two free tickets to the Housing First Nations Conference in Brisbane this October.
Housing Australia opened a new funding stream under Funding Round 3 of the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) on 14 September, providing an additional pathway to accelerate the delivery of social and affordable housing.
The latest round is designed to support ready-to-deliver, well-located, low-density housing projects and contribute to the national target of delivering 40,000 social and affordable homes. Expressions of Interest are now open.
Community housing providers and developers with eligible projects may wish to review the funding criteria and program documentation ahead of applications opening.
The vehicle allowance has temporarily increased for the Aged Care Award and Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHADS) Award. From 1 September, the vehicle allowance under the Aged Care Award and SCHADS Award has increased from $1.01 to $1.05 per kilometre. It applies for 6 months, or until 28 February 2027. The vehicle allowance increase applies from the first full pay period starting on, or after 1 September. This means if the weekly pay period starts on Tuesday, the new rates will apply from Tuesday 1 September.
Fair Work Ombudsman recovers more than $5.3 million in aged care underpayments
The Fair Work Ombudsman has recovered more than $5.3 million for almost 3,600 direct care employees following investigations into 22 aged care providers across Australia.
Of the organisations investigated, 13 were found to have breached workplace laws, resulting in widespread underpayments affecting personal care workers, enrolled and registered nurses, and assistants in nursing. Residential aged care providers repaid more than $2.17 million to 2,338 employees, while home care providers repaid more than $3.13 million to 1,253 employees.
The findings serve as an important reminder for aged care employers to regularly review award classifications, pay rates and payroll practices to ensure compliance with workplace obligations, particularly as the sector continues to navigate significant award and wage changes.
Each Friday, we bring you our Fair Work Friday update via our social channels, where we share our thoughts and practical insights on recent Fair Work Commission decisions and what they may mean for employers. From unfair dismissal and flexible work disputes to award interpretation and workplace conduct matters, we break down key rulings and highlight the lessons organisations can apply in their own workplaces.
The Australian Homelessness Conference is Australia’s largest homelessness conference, bringing together all sectors addressing homelessness in Australia to share new ideas, best practices, and opportunities for system reform.
Hear from social enterprise leaders, experts and supporters discussing the latest innovations from businesses that are putting people and planet first, and creating a cleaner, greener, fairer and kinder world. Check out this 2 minute video to check out last year's festival.
Our recruitment service is designed to help organisations attract, engage and secure high-quality talent through a professional, tailored and proactive approach.
We go beyond simply advertising a vacancy. We take the time to understand your organisation, culture and the requirements of the role, allowing us to identify candidates who not only have the right skills and experience but are also aligned with your values and goals.
Using a combination of targeted advertising, proactive search and direct candidate engagement, we connect organisations with talented professionals across the not-for-profit, community, government and corporate sectors. Throughout the process, we provide clear communication, comprehensive candidate insights and support to help you make informed hiring decisions with confidence.
Whether you're recruiting for a specialist role, a leadership position or building capability within your team, our experienced recruitment consultants can help you find the right person for the role.
To find out more about how this could assist your workplace, please contact our CEO, Natalie Carrington on 02 8114 4449 or via the linksbelow.
We are now publishing a monthly summary of the latest 'hot candidates' who are ready for a new challenge and new role in the sector. Each month we bring you candidates across a range of roles, with specific experience in the NFP sectors. If any of the profiles catch your eye as a potential great for your team, please let us know! Here are this month's hot candidates:
Brisbane
- Community Services Manager
Canberra
- Project Manager (IT & Procurement)
Central Coast
- Executive Assistant
Gold Coast
- Housing and Property Executive
Perth
- Head of People and Culture
Sydney
- Chief Operating Officer
- Chief of Staff
- Operations Manager
- Senior Housing Manager
- Organisational Development and People Consultant
Bloom HR acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work. We pay our respects to the Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise it always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
