12 | National Update
victoria Report Supporting workforce growth and skills through simulation training John Begg Chief Executive Officer | Victoria
H
ealth Workforce Australia (HWA) has predicted Australia will face a shortage of 109,000 Nurses (both Registered and Enrolled) across the healthcare system by 20251. This concerning statistic demonstrates the vital importance of investing in, and ensuring the growth of, Australia’s healthcare workforce over the coming decades. The expected population growth of older people who are already living longer with increased complexity of care needs will also impact on the skills required by the current and future workforce. The increasing availability of fully qualified and experienced nurses is of particular and critical importance to the age services sector both now and into the future. The LASA Victoria vision is to provide the clinical knowledge and expertise required by nurses who provide ongoing care for older people living in an aged care facility. Of upmost importance to the training of Registered Nurses is access to clinical placement experience in providing support for older people have multiple comorbidities and disabilities. Within age services this includes placements in residential and/or community aged care facilities. As well as delivering the innovative Aged Care Graduate Nurse Program (ACGNP) from 2012 to 2013 (run in a partnership with Monash University through funding from the Commonwealth), LASA Victoria has coordinated placements for 150 students across 910 day of clinical experience within residential aged care from 2011-13 through funding from HWA. Both programs will continue into 2014. LASA Victoria saw the availability of additional HWA funding for Capital and Goods and Services as an exceptional opportunity to provide a Simulation Training Venue to assist the clinical practice of Registered Nurses. Such simulation training enables students to enhance their placement experience by reinforcing education already provided through accredited or University training.
A simulation training van for LASA Victoria Rather than develop a fixed simulation training room, LASA Victoria saw an opportunity to provide simulation training in age services facilities by way of a modified mobile van. Consequently, a van was purchased in early 2013 and is currently in the process of being specially fitted out for simulation training Using a mannequin on an ambulance stretcher that can be wheeled into a facility, LASA Victoria clinical simulation experts will have the capacity to conduct training in both basic and complex technical procedures such as female catheterisation, tracheostomy care, PEG care, wound management and syringe drivers without impacting on the privacy of a resident living in a residential care facility. Students – and facility staff – will be able to refresh their clinical skills with a great degree of fun and interest in the first aged care simulation training Van in Victoria. It is anticipated that, in the future, the simulation van may be used by aged care facilities in metropolitan, regional and rural areas. Through the use of the van, LASA Victoria will be directly contributing to the critical need for clinical experience with the long term view of building the capacity and capability of the age services workforce. This great initiative is a true demonstration of LASA Victoria’s dedication to assisting our industry to provide quality care. The LASA Victoria simulation training van will be ready within the next few months, and will be used throughout Victoria. For more information, please contact Pamela Johnson on (03) 9805 9400. ■
References 1. Health Workforce Australia 2025, http://www.hwa.gov.au/sites/uploads/healthworkforce-2025-volume-1.pdf