Media Statement - 5th September 2008
Next year, 180 scholarships valued at up to $10,000 will be available
for community aged care nurses to improve their skills – as part of the
Australian Government’s commitment to improving the skills in nursing.
In total, over the next three years, 410 scholarships will be made available.
“These new scholarships will help to strengthen community aged care by
improving the knowledge and skills of nurses,” Minister for Ageing, Mrs
Justine Elliot said.
It is part of the $4.5 million Postgraduate Community Aged Care Nursing
Scholarships Scheme – administered by the Royal College of Nursing
Australia.
“Community aged care nurses help older Australians to continue to live
independently in their own homes for as long as they wish.
“This is about preparing for the challenges of the 21st century and
responding to our nation’s ageing population,” Mrs Elliot said.
Registered and Division 1 nurses in community aged care can apply for
the scholarships, which provide financial assistance for tertiary
studies, TAFE programs and vocational education and training courses.
The scholarship can also fund short courses and conferences.
Information is available from the Royal College of Nursing Australia on 1800 551 201 or website: http://www.rcna.org.au/site/scholarships.php.
In early 2008, the Australian Government announced funding of $138.9
million over five years to bring extra nurses into the Australian
health workforce.
One component of this initiative is the Bringing Nurses Back into the
Workforce program which supports the return of 7,750 nurses to
hospitals and 1,000 nurses to residential aged care homes.
The Government will also be allocating an additional 500 Commonwealth
supported nursing places at universities to commence in second semester
2008 and a further 1,000 places to commence in 2009.
These new nursing places will fulfil the Government’s election
commitment to provide for an additional 1,500 nursing graduates in five
years.
Other Australian Government aged care workforce initiatives include:
- providing scholarships to encourage more people to enter or re-enter aged care nursing, especially in rural and regional areas through the Aged Care Nursing Scholarship Scheme;
- assisting enrolled nurses to access recognised and approved medication administration education and training programs; and
- funding the Diploma in Nursing (Enrolled Nurse Qualifications) for residential aged care workers through the Better Skills Better For Better Care program.