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Learning and Development

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What is learning and development?

Learning and development is a more holistic way of approaching training. A learning and development approach acknowledges that we are always learning, both on and off-the-job. The workplace is seen as a place where there is always the potential to learn, and that ongoing professional development provides the individual, the team and the organisation with the opportunity to improve their skills, knowledge and practice.

Learning and Development strengthens the disability sector workforce and enables it to provide a consistently high quality of support for people with a disability.

Learning and Development is about an ongoing commitment to developing people as an integral part of an organisation’s operations. It is more than just training: Learning and Development asks employees and their management to take responsibility for their learning, to ensure they meet the required skills of their work, improve the quality of life of people with a disability, and allow them to pursue the lifestyle they desire.

For this reason field has produced the Learning@work resource kit to provide a learning framework, a practical learning program and tools to implement or enhance learning culture.  This resource has been funded by the Department of Human Services and augments the Ready4work Disability Support Worker Induction Kit, 2nd Edition 2009 and The Agency Training Plan Resource Kit previously released by field.

What is a learning culture?

(edited extracts from Learning@work, Supervisor’s Guide [section 2], field 2009)
A learning culture describes a work environment where learning is integrated throughout the organisation’s policies, processes and practices. Each person feels it is both an expectation that they will continue learning, and their right. A culture of this type places great value on new approaches, ideas and practices and is not intimidated by failure, which it accepts as a possible consequence of attempting new things. The only real failure in a learning culture is the failure to learn. Learning@work is a resource kit developed by field – furthering inclusive learning and development - to enhance the development of a learning culture in community service organisations.

A learning culture is highly focused on the transfer of knowledge and skills from learning to work practices and process. This is especially important to adult learners who place a high priority on learning and development that is relevant to and usable in their work.

What are the benefits of learning and development to my organisation?

Organisations invest in learning and development primarily to ensure that their services to people with disabilities are of a high quality and are continually improving. Individuals invest in learning and development for the same reasons and to facilitate their professional growth and advancement.

Further Reading


Page updated on Friday, October 16, 2009