Forum to focus on aged care workforce

This year’s annual Research Forum on Ageing will bring together researchers, policy experts, service providers and innovators in ageing to examine what is needed to maintain a high quality aged care workforce.

Hosted by The University of Western Australia’s Social Care and Ageing (SAGE) Living Lab, the one-day forum will be held tomorrow Thursday 17 December from 9.15am to 3.30pm at UWA’s IQX building on Broadway in Nedlands.

With one in three people over the age of 65 born overseas, and 32 per cent of our aged care workforce also migrants, the ageing and aged care sector is extremely diverse culturally, making migration a critical issue of relevance.

Given projected growth in the aged care workforce, high quality education and innovative, evidence-based training is essential to maintain quality care, culturally responsive care, inter-professional practice, working with families, and addressing social isolation and loneliness.

The morning panel features the latest research on the importance of arts, music and active engagement to ageing well. The afternoon panel features ageing and aged care workforce issues, including a workshop roundtable discussion on continuing education and developing opportunities for career progression for the aged care sector and beyond.

This year’s Forum includes the launch of Healthy Active Ageing Rapid Evidence Review prepared by Professor Loretta Baldassar and Dr Mariana Atkins from UWA Social Care and Ageing Living Lab and funded by the Heart Foundation.

The forum is hosted in collaboration with LG Professionals WA Age Friendly Communities Network; Association for Culturally Appropriate Care; MYVISTA – Retirement and Aged Care Living; North Metropolitan TAFE, United Workers Union, Australian Living Lab Innovation Network; and the UWA Public Policy Institute.