Working in aged care
Personal carers in residential and community aged care - Aged Care Workforce Vocational Education and Training
Personal carers in residential aged care or community based care workers are being encouraged to gain a qualification from the vocational education and training sector, such as Certificate Level III or IV in Aged Care, or Home and Community Care.
Through the Aged Care Workforce Fund, the Aged Care Workforce Vocational Education and Training (ACWVET) provides training, education and support for the aged care workforce ranging from nationally accredited short courses through to aged care certificates in Vocational Education and Training.
Australian Government funding is being provided, from 2010-11 over four years, to support the provision of Certificate III and IV qualifications and short courses/single units.
In addition, Enrolled Nurse training provides opportunities for existing aged care staff to undertake training leading to qualification as an enrolled nurse.
The department directly engages registered training organisations to deliver fully funded training to workers in identified approved aged care services.
Current vocational and educational training priorities cover:
- Certificate III in Aged Care
- Certificate III in Home and Community Care
- Certificate IV in Aged Care
- Certificate IV in Home and Community Care
- Certificate IV in Leisure and Health
- Certificate IV in Frontline Management
- Diploma of Community Services Coordination
- Enrolled nursing
In addition, funding can be accessed for short courses (Single units of competence from the above training packages in a statement of attainment):
These single units can be clustered together and offered as skill sets under the CHC08 training package (CHC08). This allows students to obtain improved skills across one particular area. Some examples of relevant skill sets include Community Sector Team Leadership, Palliative Approach, Dementia Support and Mental Health Skill Sets.
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There are two ways of accessing financial support for education and training, through:
Accessing funding through eligible aged care providers
Approved Providers identify suitable students through their individual workforce planning. The Approved Provider nominates these students and requests the relevant number of training places required by completing an Approved Provider Training Endorsement form.Aged Care Education and Training Incentive program
The Aged Care Education and Training Incentive program provides payments to eligible aged care workers working in eligible aged care services who undertake specified education and training programs.Top of page
Related Links
For information on aged care opportunities and training in the growing aged care sector go to:- Vocational Education and Training in Australia - for information on Training Packages, Qualifications, Courses, Units of Competency and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). Some aged care providers are also Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).
- Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council — for information on the community skills training package for community services
- The health heroes website — Health Heroes encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school kids to consider one of the many job opportunities available in health and aged care.
- Aged and Community Services Australia Incorporated — the national peak body representing over 1100 church, charitable and community-based organisations, providing accommodation and care services to older Australians, people with a disability and their carers.
- The Aged Care Association Australia — the professional, national industry association for providers of quality residential and community aged care services.
- The National Centre for Vocational Education Research . The Centre is a not-for-profit company owned by state, territory and federal ministers responsible for training. It is a professional and independent body responsible for collecting, managing, analysing, evaluating and communicating research and statistics about vocational education and training (VET) nationally.
