When Allambi Care sat down to present its case for the prestigious Innovation Award in the vocational education and training (VET) sector, something unexpected happened. The panel member interviewing the team, a seasoned professional who had heard countless presentations before, was moved to tears. He concluded the meeting, remarking that Allambi’s achievements in VET industry completion rates were “unprecedented in Australia”.
It was a moment that captured exactly what makes Allambi different. In a sector where many are chasing the latest technological solutions, Allambi has chosen a simpler, more human path: investing in people.
“Our vision has always been that the greatest investment you can make is in people, not systems,” explains CEO Simon Walsh.
“If our staff feel supported, valued, and able to grow, then the children and families we serve receive the consistency and stability they need.
“It’s about building careers, not just jobs.”
A 10-Year Journey of Innovation
The road to this recognition began more than a decade ago. Back then, Allambi faced a daunting challenge: over 1,000 frontline staff, all highly experienced but many of whom were unqualified, and no accredited TAE trainers in-house. The tools available were generic and impersonal, offering little to reflect the realities of frontline care.
Sending staff to TAFE wasn’t an option. Many were juggling shift work, family responsibilities, and the emotional demands of supporting vulnerable children. For some, the thought of returning to study was overwhelming. “We had staff who could talk someone down from a roof with a knife,” Ben Jones said, “but who were shaking at the knees walking into a Diploma class.”
The financial barriers were equally stark. With external diploma costs averaging $10,000 and high turnover across the sector, it seemed impossible to run year-long programs when many staff left within six months.
But instead of walking away, Allambi doubled down.
Partnering with Bradford Institute of Advanced Education, the organisation asked itself a brave question: what if we train them and they leave? The answer, as Bradford wisely countered, was even braver: what if we don’t, and they stay?
Making Training Real
Allambi’s solution was to embed training into its own culture. Programs were tailored to the realities of frontline work, using case studies, real policies, and closed-loop learning where staff applied what they learned directly on the job. Facilities were built in-house, delivery was made flexible, and supervisors were trained to support literacy and numeracy needs.
The approach was practical, authentic, and deeply supportive. As a result, staff who once feared studying began to thrive.
The Results
The numbers are extraordinary:
- 586 Diplomas completed, with a 93% completion rate compared to the sector average of 44%.
- More than 65 staff have gone on to Bachelor's Degrees, with retention rates of 57% after a Diploma and 63% after a Bachelor's.
Even those who eventually leave Allambi always stay in the sector, meaning the investment benefits the wider community.
But beyond the statistics are the stories that really matter.
Julee, a mother who began at Allambi without a Diploma qualification, joined as a frontline support worker. She has since completed her Diploma, earned her dual Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, and is now one semester away from a bachelor’s degree. Today, Julee is the Compliance Manager for the very training program that first allowed her to grow.
Claire, our inspirational Parent Advocate, first connected with Allambi’s outreach program as a parent navigating complex family challenges. Demonstrating remarkable resilience and determination, she went on to join Allambi Care as a staff member so she could support other families. Claire has completed her Diploma of Community Services, is enrolled in a bachelor’s degree, has spoken as an advocate at international conferences, and was even nominated as a NSW VET Student of the Year. Today, she draws on her lived experience to guide and empower other families.
Liv is an incredibly resilient advocate and young woman with lived experience in Allambi’s out-of-home care system. She is now a Support Worker, close to finishing her Diploma of Community Services, while working full time, speaking as a peer advocate on international panels, and raising her own beautiful children.
The Heart
These are the kinds of stories that moved the award panel member because they show what happens when an organisation refuses to see training as a tick-box exercise and one that innovates and integrates real learning outcomes, qualifications and improvements for those being supported.
For Allambi Care, it has always been about people first. Staff who stay longer than 12 months give young people stability, build meaningful careers, and lift the standards of an entire sector.
As the panel member puts it, “This is a heart story.”
And as Allambi continues to influence reforms, publish research, and build inclusive pathways for the future, their heart-first approach is setting a benchmark in the VET industry, one that others are now inspired to follow.
Allambi Care now awaits the results of the awards to see whether it walks away with Gold, Silver, or Bronze, which will be announced at the Australian Training Awards being held in Darwin on the 5th December.
Stay tuned!
