Supporting a Culturally Diverse Workforce in Aged Care

Projects >> Supporting a Culturally Diverse Workforce in Aged Care

In October 2009 the SA Health and Community Services Skills Board hosted a Roundtable to consider the challenges associated with training and subsequent employment of culturally and linguistically diverse personal care workers and nurses in aged care.  Key stakeholders, including service providers, industry peak bodies, unions, training providers (with aged care and language and literacy expertise), support and advocacy groups and relevant government agencies met to discuss issues and to generate ideas for response following a number of concerns being raised with the Skills Board by employers, unions, peak bodies and training providers.  Those present at the Roundtable affirmed that:

• A culturally diverse workforce is to be celebrated and valued
• There are some complex challenges that require coordinated action from agencies with different expertise and responsibilities across the demains of policy, regulation, education and training, service provision, funding and workforce.

The Board intends to do further work on some of the matters raised at the Roundtable in 2010.

A copy of the report from the Roundtable is available by contacting info@sahcssb.com.au