New scholarships aim to strengthen aged care workforce and protect access to care
![<p>Shot of a happy mature doctor looking thoughtful [Source Marco VDM, iStock]</p>](https://agedcareguide-assets.imgix.net/news/articles/wp/iStock-1283003210.jpg?fm=pjpg&format=auto&w=550&q=65)
Shot of a happy mature doctor looking thoughtful [Source Marco VDM, iStock]
With aged care homes and in-home services still struggling to fill shifts, staff shortages remain one of the biggest threats to the quality of care older Australians receive. A new $21.5 million Federal Government investment hopes to change that by funding more than 1,000 scholarships for aged care workers and nurses.
The program is designed to both attract new workers and help existing staff upskill in areas like dementia care, palliative care, infection control and clinical leadership.
Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Sam Rae, said investing in the workforce was essential to ensure families can rely on safe and consistent care.
“Workers are at the frontline of our Government’s aged care reforms – and giving them the development opportunities they need to build meaningful careers will help us deliver better care to every older Australian,” Minister Rae said.
The scholarships are part of a broader effort to strengthen the workforce after years of shortages. While reforms have already led to registered nurses being onsite in aged care homes more than 99% of the time, staffing pressures remain.
Leanne Boase, Managing Director of Grants and Scholarship Programs at the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners, which will deliver the program until 2027, said the initiative is about more than funding education.
“We look forward to raising awareness of the roles of aged care workers and nurses, while supporting them to aspire to more advanced clinical roles and career paths to provide more advanced and complex care for older Australians,” Ms Boase said.
For families, the hope is that a stronger and better-trained workforce will mean more stability in care, shorter waits for services, and access to staff with specialist skills when they are needed most.
Aged care workers and nurses can apply now through the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners website.
