Values – Collaboration, Innovation
In Australia, the Aged Care sector faces significant challenges and struggles to recruit suitably trained people to meet growing demands. I’m very proud that UOW College is leading the way to help solve this problem, partnering with Sapphire Coast Community Aged Care (SCCA) in Bega to deliver the Certificate IV in Ageing Support to nine Trainees. This is a unique new trial program where UOW College has collaborated with SSCA to tailor training and assessment to meet the organisation’s needs. It is designed in a way to ensure the students succeed, whilst assisting to address critical skills shortages within the Bega community. Last month, students started their traineeships with an orientation and three day intensive workshop to get them ‘job ready’. They are now attending training at the UOW Bega Campus three Fridays per month, while working three to four days per week at one of two Sapphire Group local aged care facilities. Once students have completed their Certificate IV, they will be eligible to apply to continue their studies to become a Registered Nurse. This partnership wouldn’t have happened without the dedicated efforts of our Vocational Program Manager, Liz Thomas and UOW Bega Campus Manager, Samantha Avitaia. It is a fantastic display of our values of Collaboration and Innovation at play. Following this pilot, we’re hoping we can roll out similar programs elsewhere so we can continue to support addressing the critical skills shortages that exist throughout the region.
