Aged care clinical training goes mobile!
A Victorian aged and community care organisation has officially launched what has been described as the ‘first ever’ Simulation Training Van for the industry at an event hosted by aged care facility, Villa Maria, in Kew recently – an initiative that will directly support the skills growth of the age services workforce.
Ingrid Williams, president of Leading Age Services Australia – Victoria (LASA Victoria), said the mobile training unit in Victoria would enable delivery of high quality and innovative clinical training for personal care workers, and enrolled and registered nurses across the state.
“Rather than develop a fixed simulation training room, our training division saw an opportunity to provide simulation training to age services facilities by way of a modified mobile van.
“Through the van, LASA Victoria will be directly contributing to the critical need for clinical experience with the long term view of building the capacity and capability of the age services workforce.
“This flexible, onsite delivery of basic clinical training can also assist aged care staff manage the increasing complexity of residents’ care needs; potentially preventing Emergency Department admissions.”
The Simulation Training Van was made possible through funding from Health Workforce Australia (HWA), who has predicted Australia will face a shortage of 109,000 nurses (both registered and enrolled) across the healthcare system by 2025.
“This concerning statistic demonstrates the vital importance of investing in, and ensuring the growth of, Australia’s healthcare workforce over the coming decades – this is especially critical in aged care due to the ageing population and increased complex care needs of the elderly in our care.
“LASA Victoria viewed the availability of the HWA funding as an exceptional opportunity to provide a Simulation Training Venue to assist the clinical practice of aged care staff.
“This great initiative is a true demonstration of our ongoing dedication to assisting our industry to provide quality care,” Ms Williams said.
Sandra Bowen, Villa Maria’s learning and development manager, said the van would make staff training easier and more costeffective.
“We can book it and if we want some training in, for instance, catheter care, they [LASA Victoria] will supply all the mannequins, all the equipment and they will even come and run the session.
“The van is an opportunity for people to tap into the latest in teaching methodologies and equipment,” she said.
Ms Bowen, who is also on the industry reference group for LASA Victoria’s Graduate Nurse Program and chair of its Education Advisory Taskforce, said training off site was expensive and time consuming and this would make it more efficient.
“It makes it easier for staff to access this vital training because people don’t have to leave their site,” she added.
The Simulation Training Van will now commence onsite training visits around Victoria. Any providers interested in the service are urged to contact LASA Victoria on (03) 9805 9400.
