‘It’s the old people’: Why enrolled nurses (ENs) belong in aged care
Last year (2022), just two weeks out from Christmas, Tasmanian enrolled nurse Julie Wicks and dozens of her colleagues working across Southern Cross Care’s aged care facilities were asked to front up to a Monday morning meeting over Skype. Shock quickly spread after staff learned about plans to make all ENs redundant, meaning they wouldn’t […]
Have your say on the aged care wage increase
Have your say on the aged care wage increase
Recognising excellence: Aged care registered nurses’ payment for clinical skills and leadership
The second round of the Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payment initiative is now open for eligible registered nurses. The payment, which opened on 6 November 2023, and close on 20 December 2023, acknowledges the vital role that registered nurses play in delivering high-quality care to older Australians. Registered nurses employed by eligible aged care providers […]
Nursing students can now access supported clinical placements in aged care
Bachelor of Nursing students can now apply for supported clinical placements in aged care through the federal government’s new Aged Care Nursing Clinical Placements Program. The program involves clinical facilitators providing specialist support to nursing students, who must complete a minimum of 800 hours of clinical placement as part of their courses, while they are […]
Suffering in silence: The reality of elder abuse
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines elder abuse as “a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.”1 Abuse can be financial (manipulation of financial decisions, seizing of assets), psychological (threats, name-calling, belittling), social […]
Maggie Beer launches new program to train aged care cooks and chefs to deliver better food
Maggie Beer launches new program to train aged care cooks and chefs to deliver better food
‘Safe staffing and better pay’: Major changes to rebuild aged care sector begin
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) applauds two significant achievements to rebuild the aged care sector, which will come into effect tomorrow. Legislation to implement Registered Nurse (RN) 24/7 comes into operation, and historic wage increases following the Aged Care Work Value decision, will start to flow through to nurses and carers in the […]
Enrolled Nurse minutes a key pillar of funding for aged care reforms
Enrolled Nurses are a key part of increased funding provided by the Australian Government to ensure all nursing homes have an appropriate mix of RNs, ENs and PCWs/AINs as they meet minimum care minute responsibilities, in line with recommendations made by the landmark Aged Care Royal Commission. But it’s not what some aged care providers […]
Project aims to build new generation of gerontology nurses to work in aged care
The University of Canberra will lead a $2.1 million Commonwealth project aimed at building and sustaining the nursing workforce in aged care settings. The project will have two main educational components: training and support for nurse educators, and clinical placements for second and third-year nursing students in residential aged care. Professor of Gerontological Nursing, Kasia […]
Aged Care Minister outlines ambition to bring sector ‘back from the brink’
“How our nation provides for the final years of a citizen’s life is worthy not only of dedication and dollars but of ambition,” declared Aged Care Minister Anika Wells, in laying out her vision for a better system for older Australians during a National Press Club address in Canberra on Wednesday. Delivering the first ever […]