Candidate Priorities: Candidates in the community space continue to seek purpose-driven roles aligned with their values. They look for organisations that offer meaningful community impact, professional development, external clinical supervision, and wellbeing initiatives to prevent burnout.
Client Expectations: Clients are looking for highly skilled candidates that have had access to professional development such as training in evidence-based practice strategies and techniques. Many organisations are looking for talent who already bring with them the tools and strategies to manage their workload, wellbeing, and emotional resilience.
Emerging Role Trends: There's been an increase in specialist roles (e.g. mental health, allied health), often due to new funding streams or increased client need. Employers are increasingly competing with the private sector or government and may benefit from considering part-time roles or entry pathways for new graduates to attract a broader talent pool.
Legislative & Funding Changes: New legislation and longer funding cycles will drive demand for more sustainable, long-term recruitment strategies. These changes also highlight the need for ongoing professional development opportunities and forward-thinking workforce planning.
Board & Governance Changes: Volunteer committees or boards that govern not for profit organisations continue to evolve and attract a diverse range of highly skilled professionals in addition to sector expertise. This has supported the strengthening of organisational structures within these organisations and an acknowledgement of the importance support staff play in effective operations and quality of service. For example, we are seeing newly appointed roles in administration, finance, and fundraising. There is also increased value on partnering with the right recruitment agencies to support best practice hiring.
Looking Ahead: The sector is expected to focus on long-term, quality hires as funding cycles extend. There’s a growing awareness of the value of outsourcing recruitment to save time and focus on client outcomes. We will continue to see an increase in specialist positions and innovation to meet client needs, despite funding challenges.