The University of Wollongong, the Australian College of Nursing, and Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) are being funded to establish Aged Care Transition to Practice (ACTTP) programs to attract and retain up to 740 new nurses to aged care, announced Senator Richard Colbeck, Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Minister.
Senator Colbeck said it was just the beginning of once-in-a-generation changes to aged care in Australia, with a particular focus on workforce, after the publication of the Aged Care Royal Commission.
“It will allow graduates to see the benefit and contribution they can make to the lives of senior Australians, and ultimately choose aged care nursing as a rewarding career of choice,” he added.
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Adjunct Professor (Practice) Alison McMillan, said the training component would include infection prevention and control, nutrition, falls prevention and wound care, which will be critical for ensuring safe and high-quality care for senior Australians.
“Transition to practice programs are common in other parts of the health sector, and their introduction to aged care will go a long way to boosting the sector,” Prof. McMillan said.
