Aged services program helps State retain talented nurses

With Tasmania recording the nation’s highest rate of unemployment and a rapidly ageing population, Aged and Community Services Tasmania (ACST) today celebrated the achievement of its Graduate Nurse Transition to Practice Program with a graduation ceremony at Hadley’s Hotel in Hobart.

Now in its fourth year, the program has been successful in helping the State attract, develop and retain passionate and competent aged services nurses.

ACST CEO Darren Mathewson said the program, which invests in graduate nurses through support and mentoring, was critical in helping the aged services sector in Tasmania retain and attract skilled nurses.

“Tasmania has the fastest ageing population in the country and it is absolutely vital that we continue to invest heavily in workforce development so that our sector can cope with the challenges we face over the coming years,” Mr Mathewson said.

“By retaining our skilled graduate nurses, we can ensure the aged services sector, and indeed the broader health sector in Tasmania, is well-equipped to provide quality services to older people to help them remain in their own communities.”

Mr Mathewson said the Graduate Nurse program was just one of a number of initiatives currently underway aimed at further strengthening the aged services workforce.

“We’re currently developing the Aged Services Sector Workforce Hub, which will not only provide a vast range of information for individuals seeking work within our sector, but also act as a repository of resources for people already employed in the sector as well as the organisations providing services to our older population,” he said.

“Despite the ongoing challenges that come with adapting to a rapidly ageing population and the nation-wide reforms to the sector, there has never been a better time to be working in aged services.”

2014 program participant Jeremy Scott said the program had helped him discover his passion for aged services and develop a range of skills and abilities.

“This program has helped me develop skills in so many different areas and has shown me that aged services can be a really rewarding and successful career path,” he said.

“Our mentors have been very supportive and the way the organisations have shared ideas and resources is just incredible.”
Robert Hill, Aged and Community Services Tasmania