Talk to anyone who's been on an exchange and you'll generally get a very positive response. An exchange can be a career and life highlight (IPSP 2004)

Exchanges are one means of broadening an individual's experience and the organisations overall capability. Many park agencies have long recognised the benefits of exchange programs. From agencies own reports and evaluations the benefits of exchanges are extensive including:

Benefits to the organisation.

The following are the stated objectives from several agencies who participate regularly in exchanges:

• Developing individual and organisational capability
• Building relationships between organisations that enable future transfer of skills and experience
• Facilitating and sharing knowledge and best practice between agencies
• Building capacity i.e. taking advantage of the seasonal differences between Canada and Australia during each others peak visitor periods
• Fostering professional development for individuals with potential for accelerated learning
• Building on an organisations reputations as an employer of choice

 

Benefits to staff

An exchange will require considerable effort, commitment and adaptability on the part of the exchangee.  However, the rewards can be considerable…

• Career development
• Learning that your work supports a bigger picture
• Able to step out of your comfort zone, extend and push boundaries
• Build productive relationships in other countries
• Review, think and learn about how others do things
• Reflect and re-evaluate the challenges in your main job
• By having a break from your main job, refresh, reinvigorate and motivate yourself
• Developing insights and cultural understanding
• Sharing skills and experiences
• Influence the thinking and behaviour of others by changing how you think and behave.
• A chance to represent your country and the work of your organisation.
• An adventure for the family and a chance to grow together 

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In a review of the Parks Victoria and Parks Canada exchange programme all staff interviewed felt that the exchange program was probably the best of all possible development options. … Both supervisors and participants felt that their future careers would benefit. Some who had been relatively satisfied at their current levels for some years reported that they felt more ready to seek more responsible positions.

All participants felt an increase of self-confidence, of creativity in considering possible solutions to problems, of sensitivity to the challenges faced by staff new to a job and location …

From the Initial Findings Parks Canada-Parks Victoria Exchange Program

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