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 […]

‘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 […]

‘I had to get out’: Enrolled Nurse opens up on leaving aged care sector

After her elderly mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Sue Hewson undertook a care worker course so that she could remain living at home, and to help her father. It included a placement in aged care, a sector she immediately enjoyed and appreciated. So much so, that she quit her job as a bookkeeper to focus […]