A total of 63 Graduate Registered and Enrolled Nurses will be headed for careers in aged care after completing the Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) Aged Care Nursing Transition to Practice Program.
ACCPA CEO Tom Symondson congratulated the nurse learners on their outstanding achievement and for taking the step to enter the aged and community care sector.
“You are an inspiration to other nurses and students and every one of you is lighting the way for others to follow,” Mr Symondson says.
“With the 24/7 nursing requirements which came into force last year, we know there is a critical shortage of Registered Nurses in aged care. We are proud to be helping build the future workforce and support the nurses in this vital role.”
“Aged Care is a field that comes with many challenges but is filled with countless rewards, and nurses get to experience a sense of fulfilment that is difficult to find elsewhere.”
The group consists of 48 Graduate Registered Nurses (RNs) and 6 Graduate Enrolled Nurses (ENs) who have participated in the program for the past year and 9 Transitioning RNs who joined the program for 6 months from other nursing fields and are moving into the aged care sector for the first time.
The Graduate RNs and ENs are part of a federal government-funded nursing program which focuses on the critical workforce shortages in aged care by attracting more nurses to work in aged care and supporting their career development.
Bronwyn Doyle, National Team Leader for ACCPA’s Aged Care Nursing Transition to Practice Program said: “This is an incredible learning experience and a great opportunity to capture all the learning the nurses did in their degree and transfer that into practical experience.”
“Our tailored programs will help prepare nurses for a career in aged and community care and enter the sector with confidence. We work closely with our partner organisations to ensure the nurse learners attain the skills they need to provide quality aged care services.”
“The nurses who participate in our program are supported by their peers, mentors and online education sessions. And they meet and learn with like-minded graduates and transitioning nurses who are going through the same things as them.”
The next intakes for the ACCPA Nursing Transition Practice Programs for graduate enrolled and registered nurses and transitioning registered nurses start in February, May and August 2024.
