Queensland-based non profit Blue Care has announced it will close its Millbank facility in Bundaberg due to expensive refurbishment costs and ongoing pressures from Covid-19. The facility, located 364km north of Brisbane, began gradually moving out residents in March but ...
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Ryan Park sworn in as NSW Health Minister
A former PE teacher who has expressed support for mandated nurse-to-patient ratios in public hospitals has been sworn in as New South Wales' new Health Minister. Ryan Park, a University of Wollongong graduate and longtime Labor member for Keira, was ...
More »Influx of overseas staff ‘opportunity’ to address racism: podcast
Recruiting overseas staff to fill workforce shortages in aged care could prompt the sector to become more culturally safe, a gerontology expert has said. Australia is increasingly more depending on overseas personal care workers and nurses to cover the anticipated shortfall ...
More »Provider launches affordable apartments to address housing crisis
A prominent aged care provider in Victoria is chipping in to alleviate Australia's housing crisis by introducing affordable apartments for older people with a low income. On Friday, Catholic for-purpose organisation Villa Maria Catholic Homes (VMCH) will unveil 39 apartments ...
More »Care finder program restores face-to-face support
The federal government has rolled out a new program to help vulnerable people navigate Australia's aged care system. The Care Finder program, launched at the beginning of 2023, was born after Commissioner Lynelle Briggs recognised that some older people could not ...
More »Nation’s first exercise guidelines to lower dementia risk
Australia's first guidelines on physical exercise to reduce cognitive decline and improve mental health have been launched. Regular physical exercise has been linked to reducing anxiety and depression and lowering the risk of dementia-onset by up to 30 per cent. Yet, Melbourne University's director ...
More »Uni cooking workshop to boost health of older Aussies
A group of older Australians and a team of nutrition experts dove into the kitchen this month to explore the role of food and health in later life. Researchers from Edith Cowan University and the Nutrition and Health Innovation Research ...
More »ACCPA proposes new aged care working visa
Aged care providers have proposed the federal government establish a specific visa for skilled migrants to deliver 24/7 registered nurses to facilities. This morning, the Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) submitted policy proposals to the government to amend the reform ...
More »Apartment style living in aged care: a test-and-learn concept
There has been a strong push towards smaller-scale, home-like accommodation in aged care in recent years. Many consumer bodies promoted the idea, highlighted by the Royal Commission into Aged Care, and it has been widely discussed in the industry. We ...
More »Uni program attracting nurses to aged care expands
A new placement program run by a regional university and aged care provider to attract nurses to the aged care sector is gaining momentum. The UniSC and Lutheran Services expanded their 'Transition to Practise Program' to 28 places across three ...
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