New Apprenticeship for Aged Care sector supported by NZACA

Careerforce recently announced the launch of its new Apprenticeship in Aged Care, with specialisations in dementia, palliative care, and complex conditions. Jane Wenman, Chief Executive of the Industry Training Organisation says, “We’re excited by the launch of this new programme, and the important role it will play in supporting critical workforce upskilling”.

The aged care sector expressed the need for a more specialised programme to help cope with increasingly challenging demands from an ageing population. “We have seen how the essential aged care workforce stepped up during the lockdown. This new aged care apprenticeship programme will give these workers the opportunity to become specialist healthcare assistants providing palliative care, dementia care and supporting people with complex conditions,” says Wenman.

The New Zealand Aged Care Association (NZACA) welcomes the new apprenticeship programme. NZACA Chief Executive, Simon Wallace says. “Workforce development is a top priority for the NZACA and its members that make up more than 90% of the 40,000 rest home beds in the sector. Healthcare assistants make up the largest proportion of the aged residential care (ARC) workforce at around 22,000 and the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the increasing importance of the role. The Aged Care Apprenticeship is a welcome initiative to both upskill our current workforce and attract more Kiwis into the sector.”

The Healthcare Assistance for Aged Care apprenticeship programme is targeted at those working with elderly people in aged residential care facilities, specialised dementia units, therapeutic programmes, community support, hospitals, primary care or hospice environments.

More information about the new programmes is available here. Read the joint media release