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Over the last decade, there have been numerous governmental enquiries into how Australia can better resource its healthcare and aged care industries. We’ve known for a long time that our country’s demand for nurses will exceed supply with a projected shortfall of approximately 85,000 nurses by 2025, or 123,000 nurses by 2030, under current settings. And, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in 2020, the nursing profession was the largest occupational group in the healthcare and social assistance industry, representing around 29% of all workers.  Traditionally, Australia has structured its nursing workforce with two levels: registered nurses (RNs) who hold a Bachelor’s degree and enrolled nurses (ENs) who hold a Diploma. RNs practise independently and delegate care to ENs and other healthcare workers, including a rising number of assistants in nursing (AINs) and personal/patient care assistants (PCAs).  The need for assistants in nursing and patient care assistants One of … Continued

Would you like a career that makes a difference to vulnerable people’s lives? Have you considered using your skills and training to benefit the lives of older Australians? With a booming job sector, varied career prospects, and many different roles on offer, working in aged care may be the perfect choice for your next move. The aged care industry at a glance Australia is an advancing society with good access to medical care, meaning that we’re enjoying higher life expectancy rates each year. While this is welcome news, it also means that we have a growing number of older people in our society. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare graph below indicates how the older population will grow over the next 75 years. Thanks to this ageing population, a growing need for skilled staff, and lower rates of younger people entering the sector, there are now abundant opportunities for … Continued

              the current situation     IDENTIFYING AND RECTIFYING THE GLITCHES IN THE SYSTEM   The ABC reported a recent review highlighted the NDIS as ‘frustrating, difficult to understand’ and ‘bogged down in red tape and bureaucracy’. Initial teething issues continue to be addressed as the scheme evolves and grows. The full launch in 2016 was considered a disaster with many administrative problems plaguing the roll out. An IT meltdown saw long delays in care packages being approved, critical staff were untrained, and the processing of applications ground to a halt. As a result, a huge backlog of applications emerged. There were then rushed and approved over the phone with inconsistent packages being approved and implemented. Today, the NDIA internal processes remain under scrutiny with the scheme’s IT systems still struggling to facilitate it’s demands. Following the 2019 May election, the Federal Government commissioned … Continued

          the current situation     When demand outstrips supply   The issue is that demand has outstripped supply. Those requiring aged care assistance are facing long waiting lists for the allocation of care. Recent data shows that 2, 141 Tasmanians have been approved for home care yet are waiting on the implementation of their approved package. Looking at Australia as a whole, 129, 000 people are on an aged care waitlist. (ABC News). 60% are waiting for an initial assessment whilst 40% are waiting on allocation of approved care.       Where have our aged care workers gone?   The issue lies in supply of aged care workers and it is reaching a critical point. A recent national survey of 500 nursing students aged between 18-23 showed a staggering 68% were unlikely to consider a career in aged care. The negative perceptions of the … Continued