Regular staff meetings are important for effective communication and strong teamwork. At meetings, staff should actively listen to colleagues, share ideas freely, ask questions, and clarify responsibilities. Meetings allow staff input into decisions, discussion of information and concerns. Preparing an agenda and familiarizing oneself with topics supports more successful meetings. Effective communication is key, as it enables staff to empathize with each other, share needed information, and operate as a cooperative team to improve workplace practices. Working cooperatively requires completing individual duties while assisting others through ethical communication, fair decisions, and open discussion of issues.

1. Work co-operatively
and communicate with
others about work
matters

2. WORKING TOGETHER
Recap Week 10 17/9/2013

3. Strategies staff use to communicate
effectively with one another
Staff meetings
Regular opportunities for staff to attend staff
and team meetings will support staff to
develop and maintain a strong team work
relationship
Staff communicate effectively by actively
listening to colleagues and striving to
understand their colleagues perspectives.

4. Staff meetings
The way staff relate to each other will influence
the atmosphere created in the service
Staff meetings:
Allow staff to have input into decisions being
made
Act as a means of receiving and discussing
information
Provide an avenue to air grievances, and
discuss any concerns

5. You can help make the meetings more
successful by doing the following:
Preparing for a meeting beforehand by
thinking about what you would like to
discuss, what you would like to achieve,
and how you’ll approach the rest of the
team.
If there is an agenda outlined
beforehand, familiarise yourself with
the topics to be discussed.
Sharing your ideas freely with your
team in a logical genuine way.

6. Asking questions when you don’t
understand other’s suggestions and
discussions
Listening carefully to what others have
to say and clarifying anything that you’re
unsure of

7. Trying to encourage those who are quiet
to participate.
Clarifying who is responsible for the
outcomes of the meeting and
summarising any future tasks which you
understand are your responsibility

8. Communication strategies
An important element of effective team
work is the ability of staff to empathise
with and support their colleagues. This
assists staff to appreciate each other’s
feelings, views, needs and interests and
respect the knowledge and skills that
each staff member brings to work

9. By communicating well staff can share
the information that is needed to
establish and maintain positive
relationships with each other.
Effective communication enables staff
to operate as a team to reflect upon,
plan for and improve practice within
the workplace

10. Working Cooperatively
Working cooperatively requires team
members to complete their individual
responsibilities and duties, but to also
use their initiative and assist and
support the other team members within
the workplace

11. These behaviours are highly regarded within
community services organisations and
demonstrate an individual’s ability to be an
effective team member
Behaviours that promote cooperation in the
work place include:
Effective and ethical communication with team
members.
Ensuring decisions and practices are fair and
equitable.
Discussing issues and concerns openly.

12. TODAYS SESSION YOU WILL BE
WORKING TOGETHER AS A WHOLE
GROUP TO BOTH ORGANISE AND
CONDUCT A STAFF MEETING

13. Week 11 and 12 8/10/2013 and 15/102013
Work with others – Learne rs Guide Version 1 Pp 40 - 42

14. Today we will be re-looking at safe
work practices in the context of this
unit – Work with others.
We will also be revisiting the
concept of grievance procedures.

15. SAFE WORK PRACTICES.

16. The Work On 1 January 2012, the Work Health
and Safety Act 2011 and the Work Health and
Safety Regulations 2011 took effect and
replaced:
- the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991
- the Occupational Health and Safety (Safety
Standards) Regulations 1994
- the Occupational Health and Safety (Safety
Arrangements) Regulations 1991.

17. The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 outlines the
rights and responsibilities of all employers and
employees in relation to health and safety.
Students to complete ACTIVITY
1
STUDENTS ARE TO USE THIS ACTIVITY TO
REMIND THEM OF THEIR RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES ABOUT WORKING SAFELY.

18. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES.

19. What is a grievance?
What do you do if you have a
grievance in your workplace?
What do you do if your supervisor
does not/will not assist you?

20. DVD – Our Generation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcq4oGL0wlI