Improving the aged care workforce

Improving workforce development within the aged care sector is the focus for Queensland researchers, after being awarded more than half a million dollars in federal government funding.

Griffith’s Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation received the Training and Research Aged Care Services (TRACS) grant last week, which is aligned with a recent federal government announcement to inject $10.2 million into building a better workforce for the sector.

“We already know Australia has an ageing population and therefore the workforce demand within this sector is only set to grow,” program leader, Dr Lorraine Venturato, said.

By 2050, it was expected more than one in 20 working Australians will be an aged care worker.

“Unfortunately, aged care has an image problem as well as an ageing workforce and many young people do not see this sector as a highly desirable area to work in. We hope to change their focus by demonstrating viable aged care careers that have creativity and innovation at their heart,” Dr Venturato said.

The project team would focus on using education methods such as engaging students from diverse backgrounds in collaborative projects with older people and aged care staff.

“We will also be looking at using creative outputs such as photo-documentary projects on topics such as youth and death and dying to engage students, aged care staff and older people in conversations about care and quality of life,” she said.

The project also aimed to encourage a “closer relationship” between the university and aged care industry through a virtual community that brings clinicians and researchers with an interest in dementia care together.

Dr Venturato said her and co-leader of the project, Professor Wendy Moyle, would work with key aged care providers such as RSL Care to assess their employment requirements and how these could be enhanced. Part of this would include facilitating effective clinical work placements for Griffith Bachelor of Nursing students.

“We are aiming for students to experience positive clinical work placements with our aged care partners. All too often aged care placements serve to discourage students from considering a career in aged care.

“We would like to see that turn around so students have a more positive introduction to the sector and can identify clear career benefits to choosing aged care.”