Staff development and succession planning at Yappera

Yappera Children’s Service’s high percentage of Aboriginal staff helps families feel connected to the service. Families know their children are learning in a culturally safe environment with a strong connection to culture and community.

Yappera prioritises investing in and valuing their staff. Employees are supported in their professional development through tailored opportunities, both related to and beyond their current roles. This commitment to staff development is something Yappera factors into their budget.

Yappera are innovative when it comes to staff well-being. In 2024, Yappera organised a wellness day for staff to address the risk of burnout among educators due to staff shortages. Additionally, in response to staff and community feedback, Yappera are also planning to involve staff in trauma response training.

Recently, Yappera introduced a pedagogical leader role. This position is dedicated to enhancing the organisation’s pedagogy, looking at Yappera’s teaching practices and ensuring their policies and procedures align with regulatory requirements. This innovative role was implemented to meet the needs of Yappera’s organisational growth.

To ensure they meet the needs of the community, Yappera outsources support from professionals with specific skills and expertise. For instance, Yappera has engaged YarnUp, a First Nations consultant agency, to help conduct men’s business workshops. This approach enhances the team’s efficiency and allows them to stay aligned with Yappera’s overall philosophy.

These initiatives highlight Yappera’s evolving governance approach, demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement and addressing community needs through adaptive leadership.