Swinburne University of Technology has launched a new state-of-the-art healthcare education facility, the Integrated Health and Technology Learning Hub, to help address the high demand for homecare workers within the care economy.
This facility will equip students with real-world skills through immersive, hands-on learning experiences. Students will work within a mock-home environment, developing skills to prepare them for caring for people with complex needs in a home setting.
The Victorian Minister for Skills and TAFE, the Hon. Gayle Tierney MP, officially opened Swinburne's home care facility on its Wantirna campus today.
"The next generation of health and community workers will get cutting-edge training and in-demand skills, thanks to investment in facilities just like this one. This world-class facility will help to build the strong pipeline of essential skilled workers that our health and community sectors need," she said.
Swinburne students provided a Simulation Demonstration of a end-to-end patient journey.
The Victorian Skills Authority has projected high demand for homecare workers within the care economy, expecting around 94,000 new workers needed by 2027. As the demand for in-home care increases, Swinburne's learning hub will equip students with the skills to be workforce ready.
"Swinburne's purpose-built facility brings together state-of-the-art equipment and tech with real-world scenarios to equip our students with the skills they need," said Pro Vice- Chancellor and Chief Executive of Vocational Education and Training, Madelyn Bolch.
"As a proud multisector university, this simulated environment provides our students with immersive and interdisciplinary hands-on learning, enabling better application of theory to practice and the opportunity to work together as they would in the workplace," she said.
The facility will be available to students studying a Certificate III in Individual Support, Health Assistance, Non-Emergency Patient Transport, Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance, Diploma of Nursing, and Bachelor of Nursing.
This new environment marks a major step forward in preparing the next generation of health professionals for real-world care.
