Building a Future-Ready Workforce
- Erin Barnes
- Jun 23
- 2 min read
Inside the Talent Accelerate Project
Talent shortages. Skills mismatches. Frustration on all sides of the hiring table.
After months of co-design, iteration and cross-sector collaboration, the Talent Accelerate program offers a practical, human-centred alternative to how we build and match to a new talent pipeline to strengthen a future-ready workforce.
Delivered by Groei Education and supported by the Australian Government’s Local Jobs Program, Talent Accelerate connected education, industry and government to shape scalable workforce solutions that are grounded in real-world contribution, not classroom theory.
This pilot set out to do more than plug a skills gap. It asked:
How do we rethink the entire workforce model?
The program:
Redefined entry-level roles through job redesign
Used congruence-based matching to connect values, ambitions, passions, and capability
Equipped young people with digital credentials backed by evidence and needed for the future of work
Embedded project-based placements into business workflows
Provided coaching for both businesses and young talent
Prioritised paradigm shifts across all touchpoints
Designing a Future-Ready Workforce
As strategic collaborators on the pilot, A Human Edge brought systems thinking, behavioural science and performance design to the table. Our work centred on building practical, replicable frameworks that shifted mindsets and enabled real, lasting change.
Here’s what we helped shape and iterate:
Role redesign focused on human capability – We supported businesses to move beyond outdated job descriptions and map roles to initiative, adaptability and real potential.
Congruence-based talent matching – Using values, interests and SCARF principles, we helped match people and roles with lasting alignment.
Evidence-backed digital credentials – Participants earned credentials aligned to national frameworks, tied directly to their real-world contributions.
Agile organisational models – We helped local businesses embrace flexibility, shared accountability and clearer onboarding to better support early-stage talent.
Shift from ‘placements’ to purpose-driven projects – The model emphasised mutual value creation—not just exposure, but real integration.
At a Glance: Pilot Outcomes
72 young people trained in future-ready capabilities
39 businesses across Sunshine Coast and Bundaberg engaged
18 structured placements delivered
6 digital credentials earned per participant, mapped to national standards
Significant mindset shifts around recruitment, capability, and potential
In Their Words
“This program isn’t about ticking a work experience box. It’s about building direct pathways into real work and real careers.”— Tara Jacobsen, Program Director, Groei Education
“It helped us rethink how we support early talent and gave our team practical tools to structure mentoring in a way that built both confidence and capability.”— Naomi Elliott, Managing Director, Concept Labs
What’s Next?
The white paper is now live, capturing the model, tools, and learnings from this bold, future-focused initiative.
If your organisation, region or industry is looking for ways to close the talent gap while developing meaningful, scalable pathways to drive impact, this is your blueprint.
