A new Aged Services Industry Reference Committee (IRC) will commence work immediately to bring industry and consumers together to set competencies and skills needed to deliver safe, quality aged care services in Australia.
The Aged Services IRC will progress key findings from the Aged Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce report, A Matter of Care, released by the Australian Government September this year.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM said the need for a dedicated focus on the aged services industry’s skilling and workforce requirements was a major finding from the Taskforce’s engagement with industry.
“While the Royal Commission into the aged care sector is set to go about its important work, our Government’s aged care reform program will continue at full pace,” Minister Wyatt said.
“The A Matter of Care report was developed by industry, for industry, and I look forward to the Aged Services IRC helping to ensure workers have the appropriate skills and qualifications. With the aged care workforce set to grow from approximately 366,000 now to almost one million by 2050, this is a top priority.”
Minister Wyatt thanked Professor John Pollaers and the members of the Aged Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce for their support of the Aged Care Industry Reference Committee.
Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education, Senator Michaelia Cash, today welcomed the appointment of members to the IRC, and said workforce qualifications and standards were fundamental to quality aged care.
“Every Australian deserves respect and the best possible care, and the Coalition Government is committed to ensuring our dedicated aged care staff not only have the right skills, they also enjoy rewarding and fulfilling careers,” Minister Cash said.
“Bringing together an independent, industry-led body will work with the sector and the Australian community more broadly to drive meaningful responses to important workforce issues.
“The IRC will work right across the vocational education and training (VET) and higher education sectors to meet the challenges of an ageing society.”
Membership of the new Committee (IRC) has been confirmed by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC).
| Category | Organisation or area of expertise | Member | State/ Territory |
| Skills and competencies / profession based organisations | Australian Association of Gerontology | Associate Professor Christine Stirling (University of Tasmania) | TAS |
| Australian College of Nursing | Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward | ACT | |
| Royal Australian College of General Practitioners | Dr Denise Ruth | Vic | |
| Allied Health Professionals Australia | Mr Tim Henwood (Southern Cross Care) | SA | |
| Occupational Therapy Australia | Ms Anita Volkert | VIC | |
| Palliative Care Australia | Professor Patsy Yates (Queensland University of Technology) | Qld | |
| Dementia Australia | Dr David Sykes (Centre for Dementia Learning) | VIC | |
| Mental Health expertise | Professor Kim Ryan (Australian College of Mental Health Nurses) | ACT | |
| Assistive Technologies expertise | Ms Robyn Chapman (Assistive Technology Australia) | NSW | |
| COTA Australia | Mr Ian Yates | ACT | |
| Carers Australia | Ms Jayne Ryan | Qld | |
| Employer representatives and peak bodies | Leading Aged Services Australia (LASA) | Mr Ian Hardy AM (Helping Hand Aged Care) | SA |
| Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) | Mr Mark Sewell
(Warrigal Care) |
NSW | |
| Aged Care Guild | Mr Ross Johnston (Regis Aged Care) | Vic | |
| Representative from Industry Accord on the remote aged care workforce | Mr Chris Hall AM (Juniper) | WA | |
| Independent / aligned aged care services provider | Ms Sonya Smart (Villa Maria Catholic Homes) | Vic | |
| Employee representatives | Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) | Mr Robert Bonner | SA |
| United Voice | Ms Melissa Coad | NSW | |
| Health Services Union (HSU) | Mr Rob Sheehy | NSW | |
| Education and training | Universities Australia | Ms Rachel Yates | ACT |
| TAFE Directors Australia | Ms Mish Eastman (Swinburne University) | Vic |
The IRC has been established by the AISC to review and develop national competency standards for the aged services industry. The IRC includes consumer advocates, peak industry bodies and employer and employee representatives.
Aged & Community Services Australia welcomed the appointments and will be represented on the 21-member Industry Reference Committee by ACSA member Mark Sewell, CEO of aged care provider Warrigal.
“I look forward to this Committee making a valuable contribution to tackling that challenge of skilling and resourcing the aged care workforce into the future by working across the vocational education and training (VET) and higher education sectors with provider, consumer and employee representatives,” said ACSA CEO Pat Sparrow.
With its strong commitment to workforce development, ACSA rolled out nationally its Workforce & Industry Development Unit earlier this year.
“ACSA’s Workforce Unit, which has been operating in Tasmania since 2103, is focused on many of the areas covered by recommendations of the Taskforce, including workforce strategies that address the challenges specific to rural and regional providers, including youth engagement projects and other activities,” Ms Sparrow said.
“ACSA will continue to proactively work towards creating the right fit workforce equipped with the appropriate mix of skills to meet the care needs of older Australians. We will work closely with the IRC Committee to develop those skills and competencies while continuing the roll out of the ACSA Workforce & Industry Development Unit.”
