Regional Care That Matters

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (15:44): Our regional areas are often hardest hit by changes in the economy and obviously services can be more difficult to deliver effectively to regional areas. However, there are a number of programs that support regional South Australia's employment, training and communities that do wonderful work for the people of regional South Australia. I would like to focus on one such program today: the Regional Care That Matters scheme.

We know the importance of having the right people working in important areas such as aged care and looking after those who are vulnerable in our community. We also know that, with an ageing population in South Australia, our reliance on high quality aged-care providers is only going to increase. Selecting the right people and ensuring that the training is meeting industry needs is critical to providing a flow of workers to the aged-care sector. It is vital that graduates are provided with the right training to enable them to gain the skills that they are going to need to provide care for residents in aged-care facilities and other care centres. However, working in aged care is certainly not for everybody. An innovative program to help those who may be interested in working in the aged-care sector gain early industry experience and insight was developed in 2013.

Regional Care That Matters is a program funded under WorkReady, which supports participants to gain industry experience and provide opportunities for participants to gain a realistic insight into what it might mean to work in the aged-care industry through things like workshops and on-the-job exercises and experiences. Participants will also be supported to enter accredited training, with the aim of gaining employment through industry partners in the project. Extension of the program is currently being negotiated. This was part of a $2.1 million funding that was provided to support employment and career services projects, delivered in partnership with the seven regional RDAs. The funding will ensure that jobseekers in regional South Australia are put in the best position to find and gain employment.

The program also provides an opportunity for aged-care providers in the Barossa region to work together to address issues, such as identifying strategies to maximise training opportunities in the region, and also exploring new and emerging medical technologies in the aged-care industry. Facilitated by the Barossa Lower North Futures, and supported by Regional Development Australia Barossa, the project delivers training through TAFESA, with the involvement from Barossa Village, Tanunda Lutheran Home, Country Home Services, Wheatfields and Carers Link.

In its first year, it provided training and support to 75 participants, and placed 30 graduates into employment in the Barossa region, and in December 2015 Barossa Lower North Futures reported a further 20 people graduating through the program, ready to add to the 30 the program had already given to the aged-care sector in the Barossa.

The Regional Care That Matters program is one example of the strength of industry partnering with training providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and that graduates can transition into employment in their local area. With $20,000 in funding through 2015-16, the Regional Care That Matters program has had a real impact for people in the Barossa, both those who access services from the aged-care sector and those who have been given the opportunity for training and gainful employment through this particular scheme. Regional Care That Matters is a program that shows that the South Australian government is creating real change and responding to community needs.