Investing in the Aged Care Workforce - $9.5 Million for Nursing Scholarships

Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot announced that $9.5 million in nursing scholarships are being made available to train or upskill up to 680 people as part of the Government's investment in the aged care workforce.

Addressing representatives of the aged care sector in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia at the 19th annual Tri-state aged care conference in Mount Gambier, Minister Elliot said that the scholarships would play an important role in improving quality of care in aged care today and help to build the aged care workforce of the future.

The scholarships are worth up to $30,000 over three years and are designed to attract more nurses to the sector and to up-skill the existing workforce.

"The aged care industry is Australia's ninth biggest employer and we are committed to building an aged care workforce for the future."

"The funding will support undergraduate and postgraduate nurses predominately living in rural, regional and remote Australia."

"This is addition to the $135 million the Government has provided for the training of more than 21,600 aged care workers," Minister Elliot said.

The scholarship funding includes:

• Up to 560 scholarships worth $8.7 million for tertiary students who will commence their studies this year; and
• Up to 120 scholarships worth $800,000 which open for applications on 6 March 2010.

 "These scholarships are a practical way to encourage people to enter the aged care sector and to encourage nurses in the industry to expand their skills and career prospects."

"More people will be needed in aged care as the opulation ages but it is important that we have people with the right training and skills," Minister Elliot said.

The application process for this scholarship initiative is administered by the Royal College of Nursing Australia.

Community aged care nurses interested in the scholarships, to be advertised on 6 March 2010, should contact the Royal College of Nursing Australia on 1800 116 696 or scholarships@rcna.org.au. Applications close on 16 April 2010.

For more information, contact Mrs Elliot's office on (02) 6277 7280