A number of medical training organisations are to receive Government funding to give nurses extra training to take care of older Australians.
The University of Wollongong, the Australian College of Nursing and Aged and Community Services Australia are to be funded to establish Aged Care Transition to Practice (ACTTP) programs.
The aim is to attract and retain up to 740 new nurses working in aged care.
According to the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, the programs will guide new nurses in their first year of clinical practice through mentorship, professional development and specialist clinical training.
Mr Hunt said the aged care workforce was at the heart of quality care and it was a Government priority.
“This program is designed to directly support and provide guidance for newly-graduated nurses to join this expanding sector,” Mr Hunt said.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Senator Richard Colbeck said ACTTP was just the beginning of once-in-a-generation changes to aged care in Australia, with a particular focus on the aged care workforce.
“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,” Senator Colbeck said.
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Alison McMillan said the training component would include infection prevention and control, nutrition, falls prevention and wound care, all 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,” Professor McMillan said.
