Co-designing Support Networks for Disability Support Workers
The systemic shifts brought on by the NDIS over the last five years have changed the landscape of disability support work significantly, leading to a critical shortage of skilled workers across Australia.
To address this we conducted a co-design process across Australia with Disability Support Workers (DSWs), industry representatives, and people with disability, to design and develop a series of professional network pilots to promote and support best practice in disability support work. Three out of the five networks were piloted in Phase 2.
Online hub: Easy to access online forum dedicated to
DSWs interested in meeting like minded DSWs, building practical skills, seeking immediate advice, sharing stories,
experiences and relevant resources infriendly environment. The online hub is about celebrating the breadth, diversity and professionalism of DSWs.
Support worker festival
Half day local festivals for DSWs to build an share practical skills, create new relationships and celebrate the sector in a relaxed outdoor festival environment.
Meet Ups
Informal, face to face, sessions with like minded DSWs formed around your local community and interests. Sessions focus on building skills, knowledge networks and
connections.
Read more here
To address this we conducted a co-design process across Australia with Disability Support Workers (DSWs), industry representatives, and people with disability, to design and develop a series of professional network pilots to promote and support best practice in disability support work. Three out of the five networks were piloted in Phase 2.
Online hub: Easy to access online forum dedicated to
DSWs interested in meeting like minded DSWs, building practical skills, seeking immediate advice, sharing stories,
experiences and relevant resources infriendly environment. The online hub is about celebrating the breadth, diversity and professionalism of DSWs.
Support worker festival
Half day local festivals for DSWs to build an share practical skills, create new relationships and celebrate the sector in a relaxed outdoor festival environment.
Meet Ups
Informal, face to face, sessions with like minded DSWs formed around your local community and interests. Sessions focus on building skills, knowledge networks and
connections.
Read more here
Sydney is a diverse community of people from over 200 nationalities who form bonds around identity, interests and place. The local council: The City of Sydney (CoS) recognised that many grant applicants were unable meet the required writing standard and were not able to navigate the complex application process.
We worked with the CoS Grants team, the wider operational teams, former grant holders, prospective grant holders and former applicants, to redesign the grants program and policy to ensure it responded to the increasing diversity of the applicants, including applicants from non-english speaking backgrounds, differing cultural backgrounds and applicants with impairments and/ or situational needs.
We engaged 72 staff across the City in the
design sprint via discovery, ideation and concept
development workshops, generating four finalized concepts to be reviewed in an Expert Panel.
Read more here
We worked with the CoS Grants team, the wider operational teams, former grant holders, prospective grant holders and former applicants, to redesign the grants program and policy to ensure it responded to the increasing diversity of the applicants, including applicants from non-english speaking backgrounds, differing cultural backgrounds and applicants with impairments and/ or situational needs.
We engaged 72 staff across the City in the
design sprint via discovery, ideation and concept
development workshops, generating four finalized concepts to be reviewed in an Expert Panel.
Read more here
Designing an organisational sustainability plan
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Port Authority committed to developing a sustainability plan and saw this initiative as an opportunity to shift organisational ways of thinking and working, while supporting its purpose of providing safe, efficient and sustainable maritime services.
We facilitated a co-design process intended to shift the sustainability dial to help deliver better social, environmental, economic outcomes.
The resulting Port Authority’s Sustainability Plan is the product of this new collaborative approach, acknowledging the important role that staff and stakeholders play in designing and implementing a strategic plan that incorporates contemporary thinking in organisational dynamics, design, and sustainable development.
Read more here
We facilitated a co-design process intended to shift the sustainability dial to help deliver better social, environmental, economic outcomes.
The resulting Port Authority’s Sustainability Plan is the product of this new collaborative approach, acknowledging the important role that staff and stakeholders play in designing and implementing a strategic plan that incorporates contemporary thinking in organisational dynamics, design, and sustainable development.
Read more here
Co-designing future ways
of working![]()
The City of Sydney needed to know how a large internal team could be communicating in more collaborative and impactful ways, and how a review of their ways of working might act as a platform for change.
We helped the City of Sydney to uncover a future way of working for a critical internal service body, so that they might better inform, engage, and educate the community.
Through qualitative research and co-creation activities with staff, insights have emerged which relate to the way
that the internal team might deliver their service in the future, and how work processes could be reimagined to help the internal team achieve greater impact.
The key was to uncover and unlock the potential value of this critical collective to bring the future of The City of Sydney’s communications to life.
Read more here
We helped the City of Sydney to uncover a future way of working for a critical internal service body, so that they might better inform, engage, and educate the community.
Through qualitative research and co-creation activities with staff, insights have emerged which relate to the way
that the internal team might deliver their service in the future, and how work processes could be reimagined to help the internal team achieve greater impact.
The key was to uncover and unlock the potential value of this critical collective to bring the future of The City of Sydney’s communications to life.
Read more here
We partnered with a healthcare provider who had identified a critical need to enhance the oncology patient experience across the full treatment continuum—from initial diagnosis through post-treatment recovery. We conducted comprehensive qualitative research engaging cancer patients, oncology specialists, nurses, and support staff to gain deep insights into the current oncology experience and support ecosystem.
This thorough investigation revealed the lived experiences of patients navigating complex treatment pathways while identifying critical touchpoints and pain points throughout their journey. By synthesizing perspectives from both patients and healthcare providers, we developed a nuanced understanding of existing challenges and identified strategic opportunities to meaningfully improve the treatment experience, ultimately supporting better patient outcomes and well-being.
Read more here
This thorough investigation revealed the lived experiences of patients navigating complex treatment pathways while identifying critical touchpoints and pain points throughout their journey. By synthesizing perspectives from both patients and healthcare providers, we developed a nuanced understanding of existing challenges and identified strategic opportunities to meaningfully improve the treatment experience, ultimately supporting better patient outcomes and well-being.
Read more here