The Morrison Government is continuing to rapidly roll out more qualifications to deal with the challenges put by COVID-19.
Australia's aged care and disability support workforce is set to be reinforced with new training qualifications to help the sector meet the demand for skilled workers.
A new, national skill set has been developed that will enable new workers to be rapidly deployed with the essential entry level skills they need to help boost the ranks of the care and support sectors.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said this skill set was another successful outcome from the COAG Skills Council.
"Our immediate priority is to ensure we have enough skilled workers to deliver the care and support these essential sectors need right now," Minister Cash said.
"This new skill set will ensure our aged care and disability support workforce, who are facing unprecedented challenges, continue to be supported throughout the COVID-19 pandemic."
The Entry into Care Roles skills set will provide foundational knowledge and skills, including safe work practices and infection prevention procedures.
The new training was fast-tracked through the COVID-19 sub-committee of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC), which was established to drive rapid and flexible development of training packages during the COVID-19 crisis.
Minister Cash said the Human Services Care Skills Organisation Pilot was also leading innovative new ways to develop training skill sets.
"The Skills Organisations pilots are working in critical sectors looking at ways to improve Australia's training system to respond to industry skills needs," Minister Cash said.
"They are also playing an important role in the rapid development of skill sets to meet an urgent need and to fill gaps in the workforce."
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships, the Hon Steve Irons MP, said the national training system had worked well together to deliver this important training.
"These are the types of flexible and practical solutions our country needs right now to help us confront the workforce challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic," Assistant Minister Irons said.
"It offers new opportunities for people whose jobs have been impacted by the crisis to quickly upskill and find work in the aged and disability sector."
