Aged care workforce initiatives and programs

Initiatives and programs

• Aged Care Data Collection

  Data collection provides a better understanding of the aged care workforce. It allows us to work with aged care providers and workers to develop policy that addresses challenges in the sector.

• Aged Care Nursing Clinical Placements Program

  This program provides Bachelor and Master Nursing students with high-quality clinical placements in the care and support sector.

• Aged care on-site pharmacist

  We are providing $350 million to community pharmacies to employ on-site pharmacists in residential aged care homes.

• Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payment to reward clinical skills and leadership

  The Australian Government is delivering a payment to registered nurses who work for the same aged care employer for 6 or 12 months.

• Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA)

  Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia is a new research centre funded to conduct research with aged care workers, providers, researchers and people who use aged care services. Findings will be used to create innovative solutions for the aged care sector to ensure best possible care.

• Aged Care Transition to Practice Program

  The Aged Care Transition to Practice (ACTTP) program provides nurses with mentoring, training and support at the start of their career in aged care.

• Aged care worker COVID-19 leave payment grants

  Support for permanent or casual aged care workers who can't earn an income because they have tested positive for COVID-19.

• Dementia Training Program

  The Dementia Training Program offers a national approach to accredited education, upskilling, and professional development in dementia care.

• Home Care Workforce Support Program

  The Home Care Workforce Support Program is supporting the aged care sector to grow the home care workforce.

• Nursing and allied health scholarships

  We fund a range of scholarship opportunities through the Australian College of Nursing including nursing, midwifery, aged care, undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships. Preference is given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.

• Rural Locum Assistance Program (Rural LAP)

  Rural LAP provides locums so that rural health professionals can attend continuing professional development or take vacation leave. The program also funds GPs to do extra training so they can become rural locums.

• Trusted Indigenous Facilitators

  The Trusted Indigenous Facilitators program will build a workforce of facilitators to help First Nations elders, their families and carers, to access aged care services to meet their physical and cultural needs.

• Workforce Advisory Service

  Residential aged care and home care service providers can apply for free, independent and confidential advice to improve workforce planning.