Dementia Care Essentials for Aged Care Workers
Release: 3rd August 2009
In the 2005 Budget, the Australian Government implemented a new policy initiative, Helping Australians living with dementia and their carers - making dementia a National Health Priority (the Dementia Initiative), which providesd $320.6 million over five years (from 2004-05 to 2008-09) to support people with dementia and their carers. Through this initiative Esset Australia secured 805 training places through- out Tasmania and filled all these places.
On 21st December 2008, National Aged Care Minister Elliot approved an extension of funding to the project for a period of up to 12 months (the extension period). The extension period (2009-2010) will provide for continuity of training pending consideration of the National Evaluators report. Esset Australia has again secured 230 training places within Tasmania to be delivered within the next 12 months.
The Dementia Care Skills for Aged Care Workers initiative will continue to focus on the provision of the dementia specific training for aged care workers employed in residential and community care services funded by the Commonwealth through the Department of Health and Ageing. The objectives of the initiative are to:
1. increase the dementia care skills among aged care workers
2. develop and implement a 12 month plan with a focus on meeting the identified dementia care skills needed by aged care worker through;
i) providing training for aged care workers in dementia care according to the standards in the competency based unit in the CHC02 Community Services Training package, namely Provide Care Support which is Responsive to the Specific Nature of Dementia (CHCAC15A) up until 30th December 2009.
ii) after this time we will deliver Provide support to people living with dementia(CHCAC319A) as this unit of competency falls under the new CHC08 Community Services Training package, and
3. assessing aged care workers in the workplace against the dementia competency.
The project will be promoted to all Department of Health and Ageing funded residential and community care service providers in all Tasmanian regions. This program is only available to those people that are employed in the above facilities that do not already hold this unit of competency.
This is a great opportunity for all organisations that operate within the above care sectors to have all staff working with clients that have dementia to provide the essential skills that are need to support people living dementia within our communities.
For further information on this program or to see how you can access the training places please contact:
Esset Australia
Allison Bligh
Regional Manager - Tasmania
Ph: 03 6231 0430
abligh@esset.com.au
In addition to holding full Australian government registration and accreditation for national courses, Esset Australia also holds ISO 9001:2000 International Quality Assurance certification, demonstrating the organisation's commitment to the highest standards in education provision and client satisfaction.
Esset Australia's industry focused provision of skill development programs has led to numerous state and national industry accreditations, including the Records Management Association of Australasia (RMAA), Liquor Licensing Tasmania and Victoria and the Health Training Solutions initiative in association with AMA Victoria, AMA South Australia, AMA Tasmania, AMA Queensland and AMA ACT.
Other recent media releases are available at: www.esset.com.au/media.htm