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 comprised:

• a gap analysis of existing training for nurses and personal care workers working in the aged care industry
• an analysis of workers’ and providers’ training preferences
• recommendations for a skills development program.

Over 4 months AHA used a variety of methods to consult with a range of stakeholders:

• interviews with representatives from peak bodies, training organisations and department working groups
• surveys of direct care workers (personal care workers, nurses and allied health professionals) and managers to identify priority areas for training and the preferred delivery methods
• 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.