MAKING HISTORY: THE ROAD TO A BETTER FUTURE
SUPPORT FOR BUILDING WORKFORCE CAPACITY VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT’S MILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENT
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opulation ageing presents both challenges and opportunities for health and aged care services. A significant challenge in the next three decades is the recruitment and retention of an appropriately trained and skilled aged care workforce. Continued expansion and upskilling of the aged care workforce depends upon a range of factors, a position acknowledged by the recent Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The residential aged care sector is hampered by its poor image through a series of disturbing reports that have identified a failure to meet the needs of the most vulnerable older Australians. The Royal Commission found the quality of care provided was inconsistent and in some instances quality care was not evident. Disturbingly at times, evidence of neglect was found. In response to the damning interim report from the Royal Commission ‘Neglect’, the Victorian Government allocated $1 million to the Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care (ACEBAC), to design and develop specific education and training for the residential aged care sector across Victoria. ACEBAC at La Trobe University, is an internationally recognised leader in evidence-based aged care. Our goal is to improve the care and quality of life for older people living in the community and in aged care services, especially older people living with dementia. ACEBAC translates evidence into real world practice to make a quality difference for older people, their families and the staff who provide care. The aim of this education and training is to improve the lives of those living in residential aged care by ensuring that point of care staff have increased knowledge and confidence to provide evidence-based aged care. Approximately 70 per cent of the residential aged care workforce are personal care workers. They are the ‘eyes and ears’ of the system and yet their preparedness for the work they need to do is inconsistent. Quality care provision requires workers to have skill and
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knowledge to meet the needs of older people, who are often frail and have multiple co-morbidities. Three key issues were identified as priorities by the Victorian Government: • Dementia care • Recognising and providing a palliative response to care • Oral hygiene and links to health and well-being Evidence presented to the Royal Commission in relation to these three issues highlighted significant scope to build capacity and capability of the workforce. Residential aged care has many complex and challenging issues. Along with remuneration and conditions, training, on-going skill acquisition and scope of practice are central elements of recommendations made through the Royal Commission to improve the sector. Education and training focused on specific skill sets required to meet the complexity of residential aged care is a critical element of quality improvement. ACEBAC has worked with subject matter experts to design and develop an online education and training package—Victorian Aged Care Education and Training (VACET). The package has been developed for registered nurses, enrolled nurses, personal care workers and allied health staff working in public, private and not-for-profit residential aged care. In recognition of the variability of skill and knowledge, this education and training has been designed so users can determine their own learning journey. VACET will be available via the ACEBAC website from 1 July 2021 and is open-access and free. Users can gain Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points by completing the modules. Anne-Marie Mahoney is Research Fellow/ Project Manager ACEBAC, La Trobe University. For more information visit Victorian Aged Care Education & Training (VACET), Australian Institute for Primary Care & Ageing, La Trobe University
