Could teens help ease the aged care workforce shortage?

Australia’s aged care sector is in the middle of a staffing crisis. Rising demand driven by an ageing population and increased care requirements has put enormous pressure on providers – so much so that experts are now looking outside the usual workforce pool for solutions. One of the more novel ideas gaining attention is involving teenagers in aged care roles. This isn’t speculation – it comes straight from an ABC interview on AM exploring whether teens could help fill the gap.

The scale of the problem

Aged care experts emphasise that Australia needs tens of thousands of additional care workers every year just to keep up with new care standards and demand – projections estimate about 35,000 extra workers annually. Relying on migrant workers alone won’t close this gap.

This shortage is not just a future issue – it’s happening now and linked to structural workforce challenges that have been developing for years. The sector already employs almost half a million people, but demand continues to outstrip supply.

What the ABC interview highlighted

In the ABC AM segment, reporter Bronwyn Herbert visited a nursing home on the NSW Central Coast where teenagers are already part of the care team.

At this aged care home:

• Teens help lead leisure and wellbeing activities, such as informal spa sessions and social events for residents.

• 18-year-old Kaylin O’Keefe joined through a school work experience program and stayed on in a permanent role.

• Others like Chynna Ambler and Liam O’Brien started as volunteers and found the work meaningful enough to continue.

• Residents respond positively – with up to 40% of them lacking regular visitors, these young workers bring companionship and energy.

Why many see teens as part of the solution

Several contributors to the interview made the case that youth involvement deserves serious consideration:

• Workforce mix: Irene Blackberry, director of the Care Economy Research Institute (La Trobe University), suggested that many young Australians already legally work in sectors like hospitality from age 14–15, so there’s no inherent reason they couldn’t be part of aged care with proper training and supervision.

• Awareness and pathways: Teens often don’t know aged care is a career option until they experience it. Early exposure could build a pipeline of future workers.

• Intergenerational benefits: Young staff bring social connection to older people who might otherwise be isolated.

It’s not a silver bullet

Inviting teens into aged care roles isn’t a standalone fix. Experts and providers are clear that:

• Aged care is physically and emotionally demanding work that requires training, support and oversight.

• Broader sector issues – such as low pay, high turnover, and limited career progression – still need systemic solutions.

• Regulatory and safety frameworks would need to adapt if younger workers became more common.

Why this matters

The workforce crunch in aged care isn’t abstract – it affects real care delivery. Without enough staff:

• Quality of care is compromised.

• Waiting times increase.

• Residents risk isolation and burnout among existing workers accelerates.

Involving teenagers, where appropriate and supported, won’t solve the whole crisis – but it does show how creative thinking might expand the pool of available workers in a sector that desperately needs them.