The National Care Workforce Alliance (NaCWA) has reached a significant milestone with the successful completion of the proof-of-concept trial for its innovative training session, “NaCWA Care Work Essentials: Getting Ready to Work in the Care Sector.”
This training, co-created by five of NaCWA’s Foundation Partners—Australian Catholic University (ACU), Ballycara, Burnie Brae, Centacare, and Xavier—aims to provide a standardised induction for all workers in the care sector, regardless of their employer. The initiative is part of NaCWA’s Queensland pilot, funded by Jobs Queensland, to address the care workforce crisis in Queensland and across Australia.
ACU allied health students and job seekers from MTC Australia attended the training trial. Over four hours, participants gained insights into the care sector, learning about the Code of Conduct, the realities of a support worker’s daily life, and strategies for effective communication with vulnerable individuals. They also explored the importance of self-care and recognising compassion fatigue.
Aynsley Johnson, Head of Care Services at Burnie Brae, believes in the value of a purpose-built onboarding process that goes beyond compliance. She expressed confidence that this approach would lead to improved retention rates in the care sector.
Stephanie, an ACU Occupational Therapy student, found the training session inspiring and informative, particularly appreciating the focus on wellness and self-care. She noted that the trial format allowed participants to provide feedback, making it a dynamic and participant-centred experience.
Joanne Roy, General Manager – Aged Care & Housing at Centacare, described the alliance between care providers as a groundbreaking solution to the challenges faced by the sector. She highlighted the potential long-term benefits of this collaborative approach.
In addition to standardised workforce training, NaCWA is also trialling a digital skills passport as part of the Queensland pilot. This platform will securely store and manage verified worker qualifications, streamlining recruitment processes and facilitating worker mobility within the sector.
Richard Littler, CEO at health and disability provider Xavier, says the skills passport is an essential tool for connecting workers with top providers and sharing resources across the industry.
Richard Littler, CEO at Xavier
“The benefits far outweigh what we can do individually – sharing training, sharing recruitment,
sharing the expenses of initiatives like the skills passport.”
The training attendees will continue to trial the skills passport as they progress in their applications and undergo further standardised training. Feedback will be collected by ACU’s research team to refine the program before its broader rollout across New South Wales and Victoria.
NaCWA’s seven Foundation Partners are also embarking on a deep-dive care workforce research project, aiming to conduct over 200 interviews with current care workers to better understand workforce sentiment. The results of this research are expected to be released by the end of 2024.
For more information about the National Care Workforce Alliance and its initiatives, visit www.nacwa.com.au or email info@nacwa.com.au
