Local aged care facility Nazareth House have confirmed their commitment to ongoing staff professional development by forming a partnership with Central West TAFE to facilitate the delivery of the Certificate IV in Aged Care via the existing worker traineeship program.
Currently 22 staff members are enrolled in the program, to complete on the job training by attending focus group sessions and completing assessments at Nazareth House. They will further develop skills in many areas of delivering care services including using a palliative approach, supporting individual health and emotional well being, provide support services to older people with complex needs and supervising work.
Nazareth House Staff Development Nurse , Susan Duplex said, “Nazareth House has a long and established relationship with TAFE in support of educational opportunities for our valued staff. I am proud to say that over 85% of our staff have or are working towards a formal qualification for their area of work”. Susan continued, “A learning and development program is an essential way to improve and maintain the knowledge and skills of our staff and ultimately improve the quality of our care for our residents and families”.
Mr Bert Beevers, Managing Director of Central West TAFE said, “Nazareth House must be congratulated on their committed approach to workplace training and the ongoing professional development of their staff members”. Mr Beevers continued, “Central West TAFE are dedicated to working with local industry to identify training needs and provide opportunities for skills advancement in our region”.
Aged Care is currently an industry identified as a skills shortage area in Western Australia. The Australian government has reported that the number of national aged care residential places has increased by approximately 65% since 1995.