Need to know
The latest round up of news bites and announcements in the ageing and aged care space including the search for a new Chair of Ageing; longer waiting times in aged care; and new teaching nursing home building funded.
Search for Wicking Chair of Ageing and Practical Theology
Longer waiting times in aged care: report
Partnership to train uni students for aged care
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Search for Wicking Chair of Ageing and Practical Theology
Charles Sturt University’s Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies is currently recruiting for the newly created position of Chair of Ageing and Practical Theology, based at St Mark’s National Theological Centre in Canberra.
The position, announced in January, has been funded by the Wicking Trust and aims to make an important contribution to the emerging field of ageing, spirituality and practical theology through research, education and advocacy work.
According to CAPS, the successful candidate will be a recognised leader in the field with an outstanding record of scholarship, research and publication.
The appointee will also take on a leadership role, both within Australia and internationally, in developing scholarship in this relatively new field of practice and enquiry.
This position is a full-time five year fixed term appointment, with the opportunity for a further appointment.
For further information contact, Director of the Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies, Rev Prof Elizabeth Mackinlay on 02 6272 6215.
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Longer waiting times in aged care: report
Forty two per cent of aged care services reported increased waiting times for clients accessing care, according to the latest annual report from the Australian Council of Social Services.
Aged care staff and volunteers were also being asked to work longer hours in order to meet increased demand, the report said.
78 per cent of aged care services surveyed said they required staff and volunteers to work more hours.
Most mental health services (77 per cent) and legal services (65 per cent) also responded to increases in demand by asking staff to work more.
The annual Australian Community Sector Survey of over 500 agencies – mainly ACOSS members – showed that housing availability and affordability was the greatest unmet need for clients of welfare services, followed by community-based care and treatment for mental illness.
Legal services, emergency services and mental health organisations were also limiting their services to meet demand.
ACOSS Deputy CEO, Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine said the findings painted a disturbing picture of the community services sector under critical pressure, including from chronic underfunding.
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Partnership to train uni students for aged care
A new teaching aged care facility is to be established at Mt St Vincent Nursing Home and Therapy Centre in Ulverstone in northern Tasmania following the centre signing a memorandum of understanding with the University of Tasmania (UTAS) Faculty of Health Science.
More than 50 medical, nursing and paramedic UTAS students will take aged care clinical placements this year at the facility.
Placements will focus on supporting students to develop knowledge and skills in dementia care in an environment that encourages inter-professional engagement and experience sharing.
The partnership is an initiative of the UTAS Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre’s Teaching Aged Care Facility (TACF) program, which was one of 16 Teaching and Research Aged Care Services (TRACS) projects to receive a total of $7.5 million over three years in 2011-12.
$1.4 million in commonwealth funding has been allocated to build the new learning centre at the Ulverstone facility.
A similar learning centre will be set up at Southern Cross Care in Newtown, Hobart.
