Project Management customised for Housing NSW
UNE Partnerships has considerable experience in designing project management education that is tailored to the specific needs of clients. For Housing NSW this approach was important when they selected UNE Partnerships to design and deliver a project management education program within the framework of the Diploma of Project Management qualification.
Housing NSW introduced a project management methodology in 2007 to support their broader goal of improving project management capability across the organisation. In 2008 UNE Partnerships was chosen as their education provider.
The first task for UNE Partnerships was to undertake a detailed review of Housing NSW’s project management framework in order to incorporate the Diploma course effectively within the organisation’s culture. Assessment tools were then designed and mapped to the framework to ensure an effective transfer of learning into the workplace.
From the many interested staff members, only 21 were chosen for the pilot group to complete the Diploma of Project Management program. This included six days of face to face workshops designed specifically to meet Housing NSW’s needs, with assessment tasks to be completed on work-based projects.
The workshops were extremely well received, especially as the group was introduced to new concepts by UNE Partnerships facilitators, Sandra Scheetz and John Knott.
According to Lance Carden, Project Director, Service Delivery Solutions at Housing NSW “The course was definitely the most valuable, stimulating, interesting and ‘applicable’ course that I have done for a long time. I appreciate the opportunity”.
After completion of the pilot workshops, UNE Partnerships was able to propose improvements to the first iteration of the Housing NSW project management framework, which is due for its initial review at the end of 2008.
UNE Partnerships now looks forward to working with Housing NSW to continue developing the organisation’s project management capabilities. The relationship to date has been rewarding for both organisations.
