Aged care peak body, universities and specialist organisations have secured funding through the TAFE Centres of Excellence at TAFE Queensland to develop new training models, tools and workforce solutions for Australia’s ageing population.
Delivered through the TAFE Centre of Excellence Health Care and Support, the applied research grants focus on improving how aged care workers are trained, supported and retained, as demand for care services continues to grow nationwide.
The funding will be used to:
- Develop new evidence-based training programs for aged care workers
- Improve skills in dementia care, palliative care and complex care
- Strengthen workforce attraction, retention and wellbeing strategies
- Create digital and simulation-based learning tools for the VET sector
- Improve career pathways between vocational and university education
Among the organisations receiving funding for aged care–related projects are:
- Ageing Australia
- Australian Catholic University
- Australian National University
- Central Queensland University
- Comlink Australia
- Queensland University of Technology
- South Metropolitan TAFE
- TAFE Queensland Commercial
- University of Southern Queensland
- Veri Health Media
TAFE Queensland chief executive officer John Tucker said the grants would directly influence how aged care staff are prepared for the future. “This applied research funding will inform the development of innovative, evidence-based training solutions to meet the evolving needs of the aged care workforce,” he said.
The program is designed to strengthen the national vocational education and training system by generating practical, industry-led research that can be rapidly translated into training and workplace practice.
A second round of funding through the TAFE Centres of Excellence is scheduled to open in January 2026.
