Queensland-based aged care and community services provider Lutheran Services says it is seeing tangible benefits from initiatives targeting both people with no industry experience and nursing students to meet the growing demand for personal care workers and registered nurses.
Since early 2022, Lutheran Services has launched and expanded recruitment programs to attract PCs and RNs to fill vital positions in the lead up to the new 24/7 onsite RNs and care minute requirements in aged care homes from July and October respectively.
Lutheran Services’ CEO Nick Ryan said the organisation had diversified its approach to attracting staff ahead of this critical time.
“There’s no doubt the workforce shortage is critical and we’re leaving no stone unturned in our recruitment approach to ensure we continue delivering much-needed aged care services,” Mr Ryan said in a statement. “Through our innovative recruitment initiatives, we have successfully onboarded a cohort of new and experienced PCs and RNs, going a meaningful way in tackling aged care staff shortages.”
Among the successful initiatives piloted at Lutheran Services is the Grow Your Future program, which offers paid work experience while gaining a Certificate III in Individual Support with a specialisation in older people. The candidates do not need prior industry experience and may be offered full-time roles after completing the training. The provider has so far attracted 58 staff to its homes through this initiative.
Lutheran Services also piloted a Transition to Practice program in partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast earlier this year that offers final year nursing students the opportunity to fast-track their transition to work through industry placements.
The program has since expanded to three additional aged care homes and received 52 expressions of interest for the June 2023 intake. The placements incorporate hands-on-learning with targeted education and key topics such as dementia, falls prevention, wound management and end-of-life care.
Mr Ryan said these two programs offered critically-needed workers great opportunities for further qualifications and career growth.
“We remain resolute in establishing a dedicated, growing workforce and we need to be more innovative than ever to create multi-faceted recruitment campaigns to fill skill shortages while addressing the cost-of-living pressures many are facing.”
Mr Ryan said 24-hour RNs would be of significant value to residents, their families, and across the industry as a whole.
“Our nursing and aged care staff are critical to ensuring that our residents receive the best care and support round the clock, and we are pleased to have a strong team of workers in our ranks.”
Main image: Lutheran Services Grow Your Future program graduate Jessica Meredith at Cooinda Aged Care with resident Mary Armstrong
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