Certificate IV in Procurement and Contracting kicks off with University of Canberra

In August this year, 30 participants began studying for their Certificate IV in Procurement and Contracting – a course spearheaded by HealthShare Victoria (HSV) to bolster procurement and contracting skills and knowledge in the health sector.  

HSV has partnered with the University of Canberra’s Australian Centre for Financial and Environmental Compliance (ACFEC) to deliver the new Certificate IV course to a group of Victorian public health service employees.  

The course was launched by HSV Chief Executive Neil Rodaway on 16 August.   

“We developed this course to address gaps in procurement and contracting experience and expertise in the health sector – particularly in regional areas,” says Neil.   

“We are very pleased to have 30 participants at this time, particularly in light of the many challenges facing the health sector.” 

The new course follows on from a successful pilot program in 2020, when HSV conducted a newly developed Certificate IV in Government Procurement (Health) in conjunction with Bendigo Kangan Institute and an advisory committee comprising representatives from the Victorian Government Purchasing Board, Kyabram District Health and Heathcote Health. Eleven health service employees from the Loddon Mallee region took part. 

After some further development, the course now has a stronger focus on contract management in addition to the procurement content. 

Dan Douglass, Heathcote Health CEO, was on the advisory committee and has two employees in the current student intake.  

“Supporting two of our staff to undertake the Cert IV in Procurement and Contracting significantly strengthens our procurement capability and provides the opportunity for targeted and high-quality professional development,” says Dan.  

“On completion of the course, we will be better equipped as a rural health service to maximise the benefits that HSV delivers for the Victorian public health sector.” 

The nine-month course is delivered wholly online to ensure it is accessible and convenient for participants from anywhere in Victoria. Of the 30 participants in this current intake, 10 are from metropolitan Melbourne and the other 20 join from all corners of the state.  

Via a combination of self-paced learning and facilitated workshops, participants study a range of topics including relevant legislation and procurement policies, identifying and managing risks, managing contracts and conducting market research.  

This procurement and contracting course is the brainchild of HSV Customer Relationship Manager Trish Boschin, who has been working to develop and implement the course for more than five years now.  

“There are huge demands on the health sector to achieve cost benefits through procurement, and extensive legislative requirements health services must comply with when it comes to procurement and contracts,” says Trish. 

“This course gives participants the tools to excel in their roles and will help them to identify opportunities and efficiencies that will support their organisations in the long term.”      

Upon completion of this current course in April 2023, HSV will take on board participant feedback to further refine the course content.