A new initiative to help overcome the skills shortages and economic pressure impacting the at-home aged care sector has been launched today by non-profit organisation Settlement Services International (SSI), in partnership with National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) registered platform Hireup. The collaboration is set to bring more growth opportunities and career pathways to support workers too.
The new Home Care Staffing Support initiative helps eligible home care providers in NSW and the ACT boost their team in an easier, faster and more affordable way by connecting them to Hireup's thousands of trained support workers. It is the latest initiative by SSI to deliver the government-funded Home Care Workforce Support Program, which aims to grow the workforce in NSW and the ACT by 4,400 workers.
As part of the new initiative, SSI is also looking to relieve some of the financial pressure faced by home care providers by subsidising 50 per cent of the wages of casual workers hired through Home Care Staffing Support. The subsidy is available to home care providers registered with SSI and Hireup.
"Few industries in the country have been as impacted by workforce shortages as the care and support sector, so there's a real need for the sector to come together to find solutions that provide senior Australians with the care they need," said Iggy Pintado, Head of Home Care Workforce Support Program at SSI.
"Through our Home Care Staffing Support initiative, we are connecting home care providers with Hireup's qualified support workers who are looking for more flexible work options in the care sector. We are bringing more jobs to carers and giving them the opportunity to broaden their skills and gain experience in home aged care. We also want to help ease some of the financial stress faced by home care providers and are supporting them with a subsidy that covers half of the wages of the casual workers they hire through this new initiative. Together we can all help more seniors enjoy independent lives at home."
The Hireup platform is used by thousands of people across Australia to find their NDIS care support system or by support workers who are interested in caring for people living with disability. Home care providers can hire employees as casuals through the Home Care Staffing Support by registering with SSI and signing onto the Hireup platform, where they will be able to post jobs or search for workers open to work in home aged care. Providers interested in hiring permanent talent will be able to make an offer to workers who have completed a series of shifts with them.
"Hireup is delighted to be partnering with SSI in this initiative," said Peter Willis, General Manager of Hireup for Providers.
"Sharing our workforce with providers facing staffing shortages aligns with our purpose – to enable the pursuit of a good life for everyone – and provides valuable opportunities for our workers. We see partnerships like this as critical to solving the workforce crisis across the care and support sector."
From today, more than 9,000 support workers employed by Hireup across NSW and the ACT can enrol in the Home Care Staffing Support to find more job opportunities in the home care sector. SSI will screen workers to ensure eligibility and will provide them with additional training and guidance tailored to their needs.
"As the care sector faces an increased demand for talent, our efforts are focused on making home care a career of choice for Australians. That is why we are bringing more jobs to support workers looking for more shifts and are supplying them with the skills and training that will help them further develop and build a long-term home care career," said Pintado.
Workers hired through this initiative will have access to SSI's complimentary non-accredited personal care worker courses, as well as to SSI's Home Care Traineeship.
About us:
About SSI:
SSI is a community organisation and social business that supports newcomers and other Australians to achieve their full potential. We work with all people who have experienced vulnerability, including refugees, people seeking asylum and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, to build capacity and enable them to overcome inequality.
About Hireup:
Hireup is Australia's largest NDIS registered platform of support workers. On Hireup, people with disabilities, their families and support teams can find, hire and manage support workers suited to their needs. Disability and aged care service providers can also access Hireup for Providers to solve their staffing challenges.
