News

ACU partners with Skills Generation to deliver Regional, Rural and Remote Home Care Workforce Support Program

ACU is supporting Skills Hub (Skills Generation) to deliver 4000 additional personal care workers in regional, rural and remote communities across Australia in the next three years.

The Regional, Rural and Remote Home Care Workforce Support Program is a new federally funded initiative aimed at addressing critical shortages in Australia’s aged care sector. 

The partnership will strengthen the aged care workforce across Australia. 

ACU Professor of Healthy Ageing Laurie Buys said regional, rural and remote provider’s struggle to attract and retain skilled staff needed to meet growing demand for home care services. 

Over the next three years, an extra 4000 personal care workers will be trained and recruited to provide vital support in these areas which face the most acute workforce challenges.

“Ageing in place is only possible when communities have a committed and skilled workforce,” Professor Buys said.

“Through our collaboration with Skills Generation/Skills Hub, ACU is dedicated to supporting communities to build that capacity so older Australians can live well and stay where they belong.” 

The national program will engage directly with communities, providers, and workers to co-design solutions that reflect local needs. 

The initiative will:

• Attract and retain local talent by creating meaningful, community-based employment pathways into the home care sector. 

• Upskill and empower both new and existing personal care workers through accessible, high-quality training tailored to local contexts. 

• Build leadership and mentoring capacity within the workforce to support career development and foster a culture of support, growth, and retention. 

It builds on the success of the earlier Home Care Workforce Support Program which attracted 13,000 new personal care workers to the sector nationally over three years. 

Professor Buys said by contributing ACU’s expertise in education, training, and workforce development, the university is committed to supporting locally driven solutions that strengthen the home care workforce.

“Our role in this program is not only to build skills, but to help communities grow their own capacity to care, ensuring older Australians can age well, in place, supported by a sustainable and community-rooted workforce,” she said.

Caption: The Skills Hub team (pictured) includes ACU research project manager Heidi Olsen, Skills Hub national engagement manager Rose Harris, Skills Hub national workforce manager Nikita Kretschmar, Skills Hub program administration manager Danielle Pallos and ACU Professor Laurie Buys.