Aged care pioneers

A first-of-its-kind mobile workforce development program for the aged care industry led by South West TAFE has won national recognition and could soon spread across the country.

The Aged Care Mobile Skills Lab that takes training on the road to rural areas won bronze in the Industry Collaboration Award category at the 2024 Australian Training Awards.

The Mobile Skills Lab is a workforce development collaboration between South West TAFE as the lead organisation and disability, aged care and home care providers Eventide Homes Stawell, Calvary Community Care, Edgarley Assisted Living Casterton, Mulleraterong in Hamilton as industry experts.

The lab is a purpose-built motorhome that creates a simulated aged care workplace environment, allowing training to be taken on the road to all types of residential aged care homes, disability and homecare organisations.

South West TAFE CEO Mark Fidge said the Industry Collaboration bronze award acknowledged the project’s innovation and TAFE’s relationship with industry and ability to listen to their training needs.

“The aged care sector is challenged to find and retain staff and a model that helps with that is a fantastic opportunity for the sector and for us to lead it not only in Victoria but potentially across Australia,” he said.

“It’s not something that has been done elsewhere and it could work not only in the aged care sector but to support the training needs of different industries.”

Mr Fidge said that when there is low unemployment and a tough economic climate, people need to earn and learn at the same time.

“This model achieves that and addresses accessibility and equity issues in rural and remote regions,” he said.

Mr Fidge paid tribute to everyone involved, led by Skills lab project coordinator and personal support teacher Robert Peoples.

“To be acknowledged as the third in Australia in this important category is a real credit to everyone involved in the project,” he said.

“Robert’s passion is second to none. He is now attending national conferences to talk about the model and there are opportunities to share it across Australia.”

The Mobile Skills Lab is a 26-foot mobile home refurbished with funding from the Victorian Government. It has led to huge growth in trainee numbers for the collaboration partners over the past 12 months.

Mr Peoples said the lab simulates an aged care room and has a custom-built annex that can house 12 students to run a class. “We can do everything you would normally find on a campus but we go directly to our partners so people can learn and earn money at the same time,” he said.