Gold Coast, Australia – As Australia's aged-care sector faces heightened scrutiny in light of the Aged Care Bill 2024, Plenty Training, a leading Registered Training Organisation (RTO), is calling on providers to take immediate action to address workforce challenges by investing in the professional development of their experienced carers.
With stricter regulations set to take effect in July 2025, it is crucial that aged-care facilities upskill their senior staff to meet the demands of an evolving industry and to comply with new training and supervision standards.
Ashleigh Ridley, Operations Manager for Plenty Training, stressed the importance of empowering seasoned staff to take on leadership roles within their organisations. "As aged-care providers work to meet the growing demands of the sector, investing in the skills and expertise of their long-term and senior staff is key," Ridley said.
"Empowering experienced carers with the ability to mentor and train new staff not only ensures that company policies and safety standards are upheld, but also guarantees that our senior population receives the consistency and high-quality care they deserve."
"Every day we are getting enquiries from workers within the aged-care and disability sectors who are recognising the need for internal trainers. These workers are now looking at upskilling themselves, but we are also encouraging their employers to recognise the immense talent they already have within their workforce," she said.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety uncovered widespread systemic issues, including chronic understaffing, neglect, and substandard care delivery. These findings have led to increased regulatory oversight, with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission introducing an updated supervision model. According to Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson, the level of engagement with providers will depend on their risk profile, ensuring that high-risk facilities are subject to rigorous supervision.
Despite these efforts, Australia's aged care providers continue to face significant workforce challenges. The Department of Health and Aged Care reported that between April and June 2024, 9,000 aged care staff left the sector, exacerbating existing staffing shortages. As providers struggle to onboard new workers swiftly, the lack of structured pathways for experienced carers to take on mentoring and training roles risks further compromising care quality.
Plenty Training is calling on aged-care providers to make use of nationally recognised training courses, such as the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (train the trainer), which can help bridge the gap in skills and expertise. However, many facilities have not fully embraced the potential of these programs, with experienced staff often leaving their organisations to seek training opportunities elsewhere.
"This represents a missed opportunity to empower experienced carers to take on mentoring roles within their own facilities," Ridley added. "We've seen time and time again that when organisations invest in their team members, they're able to keep key staff, reduce overall turnover, and deliver better outcomes for their clients."
The introduction of the Aged Care Bill 2024 will require providers to meet stricter supervision standards. With Australia's ageing population continuing to grow, the demand for skilled workers will only increase. As the sector prepares for these changes, Plenty Training urges aged care providers to prioritise the upskilling of their workforce to ensure compliance, reduce turnover, and most importantly, improve care quality for residents.
