Why Ongoing Training Should Be a Priority

Will, EnableUs Community

Hey everyone, welcome back to Upskilling. I’m Will, and I’m here with Winter. Today we’re talking about why ongoing training should be a top priority for NDIS providers. Winter, I reckon this is one of those topics that’s always relevant, right?

Winter, EnableUs Community

Absolutely, Will. The NDIS world just doesn’t stand still. There’s always a new regulation, or a shift in what participants need, or even just best-practice standards changing. If you’re not keeping up, you’re, well, you’re falling behind, aren’t you?

Will, EnableUs Community

Yeah, and it’s not just about ticking boxes for compliance. I mean, sure, you’ve got your mandatory training—like the Worker Orientation Module, infection control, manual handling, all that. But it’s also about building a team that’s confident and ready for anything. Actually, I remember this one time—our team got caught off guard by a new regulation. I think it was around privacy, or maybe it was incident reporting? Anyway, we realised we’d missed an update, and it was a bit of a scramble. That was a wake-up call for us. We ended up overhauling our whole training approach after that.

Winter, EnableUs Community

That’s such a common story, though. The rules can change so quickly, and if you’re not on top of it, you risk non-compliance, or worse, letting down the people you support. And honestly, when staff feel prepared, they’re just more confident. It’s better for everyone—participants, families, the whole team.

Will, EnableUs Community

Exactly. And it’s not just about avoiding trouble. Ongoing training actually helps with staff retention, too. People wanna feel like they know what they’re doing, and that they’re growing in their roles. Otherwise, they just, you know, move on.

Winter, EnableUs Community

And that’s where role-specific training comes in. Like, a behaviour practitioner needs Positive Behaviour Support training, but a support coordinator? They need to know about boundaries, documentation, privacy—stuff that’s really specific to their day-to-day. It’s not one-size-fits-all.

Will, EnableUs Community

Yeah, and admin staff, too. They’ve got to be across privacy policies, records management, all that behind-the-scenes stuff that keeps everything running smoothly. I always forget how much goes on in the background until something goes wrong, you know?

Winter, EnableUs Community

Totally. And the way we deliver training has changed heaps. Online learning and microlearning are game-changers. I know a support coordinator who was really struggling to keep up with all the in-person sessions—she was always out of the office, missing stuff. When her provider switched to microlearning modules, she could just jump in for ten minutes between appointments. She actually started enjoying it, which, I mean, that’s saying something for compliance training!

Will, EnableUs Community

Yeah, I mean, online training is just so much more flexible. You don’t have to pull everyone off the floor for a whole day. Plus, it’s cheaper—no travel, no trainers, no hiring a venue. And you can track who’s done what, which is a lifesaver when audit time rolls around.

Winter, EnableUs Community

And it’s more engaging, too. Like, interactive videos, quizzes, scenario-based stuff. It’s not just reading a PDF and hoping it sticks. And if someone needs a refresher, it’s right there, ready to go.

Will, EnableUs Community

Yeah, I reckon microlearning is the way forward. It just fits into people’s lives better. And honestly, it makes it easier to keep up with all the changes in the sector.

Winter, EnableUs Community

But it’s not just about the training itself, is it? It’s about building a culture where learning is just part of the job. Like, encouraging people to upskill, not just because they have to, but because they want to. I’ve seen teams where peer learning is a big thing—someone does a course on trauma-informed care, then runs a quick session for the rest of the team. It’s collaborative, and it actually sticks.

Will, EnableUs Community

Yeah, and recognising that effort is huge. Whether it’s a shout-out in a team meeting, or even just a coffee voucher, it makes people feel valued. I heard about a provider who set up an internal learning portal—sort of like a mini-university for their staff. People could access courses, share resources, even run their own mini-workshops. Apparently, staff confidence went through the roof, and participants noticed the difference in care quality. It’s pretty inspiring.

Winter, EnableUs Community

That’s the thing—when you invest in your team’s learning, you’re investing in better outcomes for participants. And it doesn’t have to be complicated. Even just encouraging people to share what they’ve learned, or recognising growth, can make a massive difference.

Will, EnableUs Community

Yeah, and if you’re not sure where to start, there’s heaps of good online training out there. The NDIS Commission has free modules, and there are sector-specific providers, or you can even build your own internal hub. The main thing is just to get started and keep going.

Winter, EnableUs Community

Couldn’t agree more. Ongoing training isn’t just about compliance—it’s about building a team that’s confident, capable, and ready for whatever comes next. And that’s what makes a provider stand out.

Will, EnableUs Community

Alright, I think that’s a good place to wrap up for today. Thanks for joining us, Winter. Always good to chat.

Winter, EnableUs Community

Thanks, Will. And thanks to everyone listening. We’ll be back soon with more on upskilling and building great teams. Catch you next time!

Will, EnableUs Community

See ya, everyone!