WorkSafe NZ ("WorkSafe") and the Health and Safety Association of New Zealand ("HASANZ") have entered into a Partnering Agreement (commencing September 2020, completion date March 2023) to address the challenges facing HFE in NZ as identified by HASANZ in their stock take of the professional health and safety workforce. These challenges include a lack of critical mass, demographic pressures, lack of a comprehensive New Zealand-based education pathway, and poor stakeholder awareness of HFE roles and capabilities. As a result, WorkSafe and HASANZ have agreed to implement an initiative to address these gaps and develop short and longer-term plans for building HFE capacity, capability and stakeholder understanding. HASANZ is to manage the funding and programme of activity in conjunction with and on behalf of its member association the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of New Zealand (HFESNZ).
The Workforce Development Project (WDP) represents a unique opportunity for HFESNZ members to create a shared vision for HFE in NZ. The potential in this opportunity is however dependent on members becoming actively engaged in the journey. We therefore strongly encourage anyone with an interest to get involved and help influence the future landscape of HFE in New Zealand.
Please submit an Expression of Interest, attaching your CV, (deadline is 4 pm Friday 27 November) if you would like to get involved.
The HFE WDP Governance Group (HASANZ chair, HFESNZ chair and an HFESNZ member) will oversee the WDP. The key bodies involved are identified in Figure 1. The initial project set-up phase is being driven by the WDP Establishment Group which sits within the HFESNZ committee.
Figure 1. HFE WDP project diagram
The aim of the project is to firstly upskill individuals in HFE knowledge/ability and secondly create a demand for HFE expertise across key sectors. To do this, four workstreams have been proposed, which are: competence framework review; HFE education; scholarship and mentoring; and stakeholder understanding and job creation. Additional detail about the content and scope of each workstream is provided below. In all cases workstreams need a Project Lead and Project Team. They will develop a plan to meet project objectives and be actively involved in their subsequent implementation. More detail
Workstream 1 – Competence Framework Review
The purpose of this workstream is to conduct a review of competence frameworks in order to provide a base for the subsequent development of a tertiary education programme that will comply to the standards of certification with the HFESNZ and IEA. The scope of Workstream 1 includes conducting a review of existing competence frameworks and to introduce a cultural competence component into the HFESNZ framework.
Workstream 2 – HFE Education
The HFE Education workstream is tasked with developing a tertiary education programme that complies with the standards required for HFESNZ certification. This workstream will work with NZ universities to develop a fit for purpose sustainable HFE education programme. The workstream will build off previous work undertaken by NZ universities and involve all education providers. The scope of Workstream 2 involves overseeing the development of a HFE tertiary education programme and ensure all NZ universities and relevant stakeholders are represented in the process.
Workstream 3 – HFE Scholarships and Mentoring
The HFE scholarship and mentoring workstream is pitched at increasing the current capacity and capability of HFE professionals through the awarding of scholarships and development and implementation of a mentoring programme. The scope of Workstream 3 is to oversee the setup and award HFE Scholarships leveraging off the existing HASANZ scholarship programme and identify education and training for professional members of HFESNZ to undertake mentoring and support roles. This will involve professional leadership activities and leveraging off other H&S disciplines mentoring programme (where appropriate).
Workstream 4 – Stakeholder Knowledge and Job Creation
The purpose of this workstream is to raise the profile of HFE across key sectors in NZ. It is likely to involve extensive networking and adopting a creative approach in identifying and realising opportunities for HFE in terms of job creation. The scope of Workstream 4 is to identify key stakeholders and develop content, collateral, case studies, videos, etc that can be used to showcase the value of HFE and to work creatively to increase the reach and influence of HFE across all sectors, networking as appropriate.
All HFESNZ members are invited to submit an Expression of Interest for Project Lead and Project Support roles for the first three workstreams – Competence Framework Review, HFE Education, and HFE Scholarships and Mentoring. Please submit your interest via the Expressions of Interest form (attaching your CV) and indicate whether you are applying for a Project Lead, Project Team, or 'On Request' Support role. The deadline for submission is Friday 27th November 2020 at 4 pm.
Please note the role of Workstream Project Lead includes the creation and management of budgets (with support from HASANZ Project Management personnel) and to ensure the workstream outcomes are completed in a timely and appropriate fashion. Each workstream will have a budget, with time charged at an hourly rate of $125 exclusive GST. Additional information about the project and workstreams is available in this document 'HFE WDP Plan - high level by quarter' and in the listed references, or by contacting the WDP Establishment Group chair@hfesnz.org.nz or secretary@hfesnz.org.nz.
Please email your Expression of Interest application to admin@hfesnz.org.nz. HASANZ Project Management personnel in liaison with the WDP Governance Group will oversee the selection and appointment process.
The HFESNZ responded to the HASANZ 'Building the Professions' (2019) report with a proposal for human factors/ergonomics workforce development.
The executive summary of this Workforce Development Proposal is given here:
The proposal goes on to describe the key issues for HFE in New Zealand. This includes:
A number of goals and initiatives are outlined and a funding package to enable these proposed. Read the full HFESNZ Workforce Development Proposal here.
It highlights challenges facing the workforce and makes recommendations aimed at improving things like competency frameworks, accessibility to education and training, and continuing professional development. The report identifies priority areas for action, including addressing issues facing human factors and ergonomics professionals, health and safety generalists, hazardous substances professionals, occupational hygienists, and occupational health nurses.
It was funded by WorkSafe and the Skills Organisation and includes input from the health and safety professional associations, including HFESNZ. The findings will be used to support workforce planning.