Innovation Key to Aged Care Workforce Challenges

IRT Group says innovation is the key to ensuring there’s enough well-trained staff to care for Australians as they age.

Attracting younger people to the sector and improving perceptions of aged care work were key challenges identified by the National Institute of Labour Studies this week.

It’s report, The aged care workforce, 2016, (commissioned by the Department of Health) found the sector was in good shape, but an ageing workforce, looming skills shortage and increased competition with the disability services sector are emerging issues.

“The majority of our 2300-strong national workforce work in direct care roles, so we know aged care employees are highly skilled and love their work,” said Nieves Murray, IRT Group Chief Executive.

“It’s great to see this reflected in the report, which found high levels of post-school education and training, and high job satisfaction amongst the 15,000 aged care workers surveyed.”

The report also found casual employment has decreased and the majority of workers planned to stay in the sector. Ms Murray said this is consistent with IRT’s workforce, which grew by 5% in 2015/16.

Growth is a key issue for the sector, which needs an additional 980,000 aged care workers by 2050. A target complicated by an ageing workforce. The average residential aged care employee is 46 years of age and for home care it’s 52 years of age.

“Our mature age workers are highly valued, but to meet this demand we need more younger people to join our profession,” Ms Murray said. “At IRT, we believe that innovation is the answer.”

IRT’s registered training organisation, IRT College pioneered a school-based traineeship with the NSW Department of Education. It’s also developed training programs targeted at university students and young people who’ve experience long-term unemployment.

“These innovative programs have been really successful and we need to see more of this across the sector,” Mr Murray said.

The community-owned organisation is also ensuring it’s a great place to work. Innovative performance management and reward programs have been rolled out nationally and it’s about to embark on a Move 4 Life program to improve employee safety.

Ms Murray said anyone, particularly young people considering a career in aged care should give it a go.

“It’s fulfilling work with flexible conditions and lots of job opportunities,” she said.

Ethan joined IRT as a trainee at 18 years of age. Just 10 years later he’s a manager and says he couldn’t imagine doing anything else. “The people you work with, the friends you make and the customers create a feeling of belonging. What I’ve put in I’ve gotten back, all that and more,” he said.

Find out more about IRT.

Pictured: : IRT Care Manager Ethan Bidner (by Kirk Gilmour)