Satisfaction, Stress and Retention: An Examination of Critical Workforce Development Needs of AOD Specialist Frontline Workers
(formerly The 3Rs of Workforce Development: Recruitment, Reward and Retention:
A Multilevel Examination of the Workforce Development Needs of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Specialist Services)
This Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation (AERF) funded project involved a comprehensive survey of AOD specialist frontline workers, including nurses, AOD specialists, psychologists and social workers.
The project aim was to identify individual and organisational factors that impact on stress, job satisfaction and staff turnover. We received over 1,400 surveys from AOD workers across Australia. We would like to thank all those who participated in the study.
The final report was submitted to the AERF in March 2006. Several peer reviewed publications with a focus on different aspects of the study’s findings are currently underway. A monograph entitled, "Satisfaction, Stress and Retention among Alcohol and Other Drug Workers in Australia" highlighting key study findings and implications for workforce development workplace policy and practice has been released in 2006.
Most AOD workers reported high levels of job satisfaction derived from working with clients and doing work of value to society. However, nearly one in five workers reported above average levels of stress, 54% have thought about leaving and 31% plan to look for a new job over the next 12 months. Role overload, especially for female workers, and staff shortages caused work-related pressure.
This resource is the second document in our series on worker stress and wellbeing.The pdf version is available for download (PDF 2.9MB) or email NCETA nceta@flinders.edu.au for a FREE hard copy.
Also available in this series is the document 'Stress and Burnout: A prevention handbook for the alcohol and other drugs workforce' (see below). The third document in the series, addressing managers' wellbeing was recently released.
For more information, please contact project staff:
Burnout Project: Identification of the Key Antecedents and Consequences of Burnout and Engagement in AOD specialist Workers
This project examined the issue of wellbeing, stress and burnout in managers of AOD treatment agencies. The project was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, with additional support from the South Australian Department of Health.
It was designed to increase current understanding of the indicators and predictors of workplace wellbeing in this important occupational group.
The survey was designed to address two key issues:
- participants’ current levels of wellbeing in terms of their perceived job satisfaction, organisational commitment, burnout and turnover intention
- participants' perception of a range of workplace factors that may enhance or impair levels of wellbeing
We received 280 surveys from AOD managers in various AOD treatment agencies across Australia. We would like to thank all those who participated in the study.
The majority of AOD managers were satisfied with their jobs and committed to their organisations. However, 8% of managers indicated experiencing high levels of burnout and one in five managers expressed intentions to look for a new job outside the AOD field. The key predictors of managers’ wellbeing were perceived reciprocity, adequate managerial skills and training, high levels of workplace support, high levels of autonomy, manageable workloads, adequate rewards for performance, and a safe and pleasant physical work environment.
A report titled “Identifying and Preventing Burnout in AOD Managers and Supervisors: A National Survey” has been completed for the project funders, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and provides a comprehensive description of the findings of the study. A number of peer reviewed publications are underway.
A monograph entitled, "Wellbeing, Stress & Burnout: A National Survey of Managers in Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services" highlighting key study findings and implications for workforce development workplace policy and practice was recently released.
This resource is the third document in our series on worker stress and wellbeing.
The pdf version is available for download (PDF 1.95MB) or email NCETA nceta@flinders.edu.au for a FREE hard copy.
The first document, the “Stress and Burnout Booklet” was developed and officially launched at the APSAD conference in November 2005.
In response to strong demand, a further 2,000 copies of the Booklet have been produced and continue to be widely disseminated. The Booklet is available for download (PDF 975KB).
For more information, please contact Vinita Duraisingam.
The South Australian Alcohol and Other Drugs Workforce Development Audit and Capacity Building Project
NCETA was commissioned by the South Australian Department of Health to undertake an audit of current alcohol and other drugs (AOD) training and other workforce development (WFD) activities available and relevant to workers in South Australia.
The project entailed identification of key issues and challenges confronting the provision and uptake of appropriate AOD training and WFD activities. The project also entailed documenting available AOD courses in the form of a directory that can be updated on a regular, ongoing basis.
The report presenting findings from the South Australian Alcohol and Other Drugs Workforce Development Audit and Capacity Building project is available for download. The report is structured in two parts.
Part A presents details of the review process, relevant findings, and outlines broad background issues and presents summary data on the current state of play in regard to the provision of AOD training in South Australia.
Part B provides a Directory of AOD courses available at the time of writing (2005) in South Australia. It is intended that the Directory provided in Part B be up-dated on a regular basis.
- Full report (PDF 229KB)
- Part B only (PDF 54KB)
