A new State Government publication outlines the many options open to older Queensland workers wanting alternatives to full-time work.

Dirk Wagensveld (right) passes on advice to school-based trainee Lelan Harrington.

The pocket-sized handbook targets mature-age employees starting to think about retirement or looking for flexible approaches to their careers.

Produced by the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations (DEIR), it gives people options to consider like flexible work arrangements, mentoring, job redesign and retraining and includes inspiring testimonials from older workers who have chosen to remain in the workforce.

It is a ‘sister’ publication to a booklet produced by DEIR in April this year, A guide to recruiting, retraining and retaining mature-age employees.

The new booklet is called What are your options as an older worker?

Its foreword says employers who talk with their mature-age employees about strategies to keep them in the workforce – like flexible work arrangements or redesigning jobs to better suit any changing physical capabilities – benefit from retaining staff at a time of skills and labour supply shortages, holding on to valuable skills, knowledge and experience.

Dirk Wagensveld, who features in the handbook, has worked for waste management, recycling and environmental services company J.J.Richards for over 30 years and at 65 years of age has a wealth of experience, skills and knowledge.

Mr Wagensveld works a compressed four-day week at the engineering plant in the Brisbane suburb of Underwood and for one of those days he mentors trainees from Woodridge State High School. Some of these students will eventually move into jobs with the company.

“If I can make someone’s job easier I’m happy to show others,” Mr Wagensveld said.

He said he would rather be at work than retired at home. “It’s better than taking up a hobby, which usually costs money. I like working with my hands, I find it very satisfying and I can come to work and get paid for it.”

Mr Wagensveld’s employer has redesigned his job to reduce the heavy work and given him the option to cut back to three days a week further down the track if he wants.

“I’m still here for a bit more,” the experienced worker said.

“There are a lot of nice people here and I still have a few things to offer.”

The booklet was produced as part of the State Government’s Experience Pays Awareness Strategy which promotes the value of older workers to employers and the community and encourages mature-age people to remain in or re-enter the workforce.

The Queensland VET sector now has a dedicated professional development website designed to support the implementation of the new Professional Development Strategy for the Queensland VET sector.

Users of the site include teachers, trainers, educational managers and administrative staff within both the public and private VET sectors.

The website’s search function allows users to find professional development opportunities that are currently being offered by reputable providers.

The website also provides users with access to research and resources that support the four key priority areas identified by the VET Professional Development Strategy: teaching, learning and assessment; leadership; industry currency; and client, business development and quality Improvements.

The VET Professional Development website can be accessed from the link below.