Projects Aged Care

Skills Development Program for Aged Care Staff

Projects Aged Care

Skills Development Program for Aged Care Staff

Projects Aged Care

Skills Development Program for Aged Care Staff

  • Services

    Evaluation & Advisory

  • Status

    Complete

  • Client

    Australian Government Department of Health

  • Jurisdiction

    Australia-wide

Direct care workers in the aged care sector must meet the increasingly complex clinical care needs of care recipients. The Skills Development Program will provide the aged care workforce with access to training that is high quality, relevant and accessible.

The department engaged AHA to undertake phase one of the Skills Development Program for Aged Care Staff (the program). AHA’s role included:

  • analysing gaps in existing training for nurses and personal care workers working in the aged care industry
  • analysing workers’ and providers’ training preferences
  • making recommendations for a skills development program.

Over 4 months AHA consulted with stakeholders by:

  • interviewing representatives of peak bodies, training organisations and department working groups
  • surveying direct care workers (personal care workers, nurses and allied health professionals) and managers to identify priority areas for training and the preferred delivery methods
  • conducting focus groups with direct care workers and managers to explore issues in more detail.

Findings from these consultations informed our recommendations for a skills development program.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety noted the importance of ensuring that aged care workers have access to good quality and easily accessible ongoing training and professional development opportunities.