Work Underway to Bolster Aged Care Workforce
A new Aged Services Industry Reference Committee (IRC) will commence work immediately to bring industry and consumers together to set competencies and skills needed to deliver safe, quality aged care services in Australia.
Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education, Senator Michaelia Cash, today welcomed the appointment of members to the IRC, and said workforce qualifications and standards were fundamental to quality aged care.
“Every Australian deserves respect and the best possible care, and the Coalition Government is committed to ensuring our dedicated aged care staff not only have the right skills, they also enjoy rewarding and fulfilling careers,” Minister Cash said.
“Bringing together an independent, industry-led body will work with the sector and the Australian community more broadly to drive meaningful responses to important workforce issues.
“The IRC will work right across the vocational education and training (VET) and higher education sectors to meet the challenges of an ageing society.”
The Aged Services IRC will progress key findings from the Aged Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce report, A Matter of Care, released by the Australian Government September this year.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM said the need for a dedicated focus on the aged services industry’s skilling and workforce requirements was a major finding from the Taskforce’s engagement with industry.
“While the Royal Commission into the aged care sector is set to go about its important work, our Government’s aged care reform program will continue at full pace,” Minister Wyatt said.
“The A Matter of Care report was developed by industry, for industry, and I look forward to the Aged Services IRC helping to ensure workers have the appropriate skills and qualifications. With the aged care workforce set to grow from approximately 366,000 now to almost one million by 2050, this is a top priority.”
Minister Wyatt thanked Professor John Pollaers and the members of the Aged Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce for their support of the Aged Care Industry Reference Committee.
Membership of the new Committee (IRC) has been confirmed by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC).
The IRC has been established by the AISC to review and develop national competency standards for the aged services industry. The IRC includes consumer advocates, peak industry bodies and employer and employee representatives.
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