Working in aged care
This page provides information about action to support the aged care workforce and practical guidance on the financial support and incentives that are available to boost education, training and professional development for the workforce involved in caring for older Australians.
The Australian Government’s April 2012 Living Longer. Living Better aged care reform package includes action to strengthen the aged care workforce.
This page covers:
- Financial support, incentives and opportunities for aged care workers
- Working in a dynamic sector
- Partnerships and collaborations to build the capacity of the aged care workforce
- Related links
Financial support, incentives and opportunities for aged care workers
Aged care workers make an invaluable contribution to the daily lives of many thousands of older people across Australia. Financial support, incentives and opportunities are available to support career paths in aged care in a variety of ways, including vocational education and training, scholarships, support for short courses and specific training initiatives.Opportunities and support are available for:
- Personal carers in residential and community aged care
- Nurses
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aged care workers
- Allied health professionals
- Workers caring for people from non-English speaking (culturally and linguistically diverse) backgrounds
- Workers caring for people with dementia
- Workers caring for people needing palliative care
- Workers caring for the Forgotten Australians
- The National Workforce Development Fund managed through the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education allows eligible organisations to apply for funding to support the training of existing workers and new workers in the areas of identified business and workforce development need. Top of page
Working in a dynamic sector
- For information on action being taken to support continued innovation in the aged care workforce.
Partnerships and collaborations to build the capacity of the aged care workforce
- For information on complementary action being taken by other Australian Government agencies on aged care workforce matters.
Related links
- For information on selected resources available to support the aged care workforce, including information lines, residential aged care standards and community care common standards
- The 2012 National Aged Care Workforce Census and Survey provides a comprehensive profile of the Aged Care Workforce which spans almost a decade.
