More funding for rural and regional aged care training program
A further 1,400 aged care workers in rural and regional areas will be offered places to receive further training, under a new round of the Australian Government’s four year $30 million support for aged care training program.
This year’s funding round of the support for aged care training program will provide in depth training courses for personal care workers in nursing homes and hostels in regional Australia.
“These training courses funded by the Government are about supporting the important and valued work undertaken by the hardworking staff in remote nursing homes and hostels,” the Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot said.
“This important program means the dedicated workers in remote nursing homes and hostels can obtain extra training that benefits both the residents as well as the staff themselves,” she said.
Registered training organisations are being encouraged to apply under the round to deliver the training through to June 2010.
The program assists those services that face major barriers to staff training, usually due to their size or distance from a training institution. In recognition of these difficulties, assistance can include travel costs and payment for staff to backfill positions while workers attend courses.
Funding will also be set aside for a national online or satellite education resource.
Approved providers of aged care services must maintain an adequate number of appropriately skilled staff and have in place a skills mix appropriate to the care needs of the residents and clients in the community.
Providers must have arrangements in place for the ongoing development of staff skills to ensure that quality care continues to be delivered.
Applications close on Wednesday 8 October 2008. Further information is available from the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853.
Application forms and guidelines for the support for aged care training – Round Six, are available on the Department of Health and Ageing web site at:
www.health.gov.au (about us – tenders and grants).
