MEDIA RELEASE
12 July 2023
Building Australia’s Vital Aged Care Registered Nurse Workforce
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) has received a third round of funding under the Aged Care Transition to Practice Program (ACTTP) to continue upskilling nurses to work in aged care.
ACN has participants and mentors in the program from all States and Territories and from more than 40 different aged care organisations.
ACN CEO, Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN, said today that ACN is leading the way to upskill and empower nurses to become the clinical and professional leaders in residential aged care in Australia, in keeping with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
“A skilled nursing workforce improves health outcomes and enhances the quality of life of older people living at home, in community settings, and in residential aged care facilities (RACFs),” Adjunct Professor Ward said.
“ACN is working in partnership with the Government and the sector to protect the health, welfare, and dignity of all residents in RACFs.
“Nurses are the most qualified permanent on-site health professionals in RACFs, and we need to get more nurses into the system to meet growing demand for high quality care.
“We strongly support the Government’s commitment to require all RACFs to have a registered, qualified nurse on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“ACN has for many years advocated for Registered Nurses to be always on duty and available in aged care.
“We will work with the Government to attract, develop, and retain appropriately skilled and qualified nurses to the sector.
“Registered nurses are critical in aged care facilities.
“They provide expert clinical governance, leadership, and oversight for enrolled nurses and unregulated health care workers, who make up the majority of the aged care workforce currently.
“We will strive collaboratively with aged care providers and the Government to provide training and develop further incentives to ensure the aged care sector has a highly-qualified nursing workforce pipeline to meet current and future needs,” Ms Ward said.
ACN is one of three Commonwealth-funded providers of the ACTTP program for nurses and has been delivering the program since 2021.
The ACTTP program provides a return on investment by reducing aged care sector workforce costs related to staff retention, pressure injuries, falls, medication errors, emergency department presentations, ambulance costs, and hospital admissions.
ACN detailed a plan to expand and improve the excellent ACTPP in its 2023-24 Pre-Budget Submission, which is available at https://www.acn.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/pre-budget-submission-2023.pdf
For more information:
Telephone: 0432 044 966
Email: [email protected]
Notes to Editors:
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is the national professional organisation for all nurses and its aim is to ensure that the Australian community receives quality nursing care now and in the future. ACN is a membership organisation with members in all states and territories, health care settings and nursing specialties. ACN is also the Australian member of the International Council of Nurses headquartered in Geneva in collaboration with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF). An organisation not afraid to challenge industry issues affecting the nursing profession or Australia's health care, ACN is a well-connected and educated national body that drives change with people of influence to enhance the delivery of health services to the Australian community. ACN's membership includes nurses in roles of influence, including senior nurses, organisational leaders, academics, and researchers.
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CEO - Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN - Bio
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Kylie Ward. Policy Reformer. Nurse. For-Purpose Leader. Equality Warrior. Adjunct Professor. Transformation Specialist.
Kylie is the CEO of Australian College of Nursing. She has led a program of transformation at ACN, which has now become Australia’s beacon for Nurse Leadership. Kylie holds honorary academic appointments with seven leading Australian universities and in 2017, Kylie won Telstra Businesswoman of the Year in ACT for Purpose and Social Enterprise. She is a major policy influencer, advocate for women, children and equality. |
