Aged care providers unite to tackle workforce and data challenges

Fourteen aged care providers across Australia are joining forces to address critical issues facing the sector, thanks to a new grant program from Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA).

The $2 million 2025 Flagship Project Grants, funded by the Commonwealth Government and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, will support the co-design and implementation of tailored industry interventions over the next 12 months.

The selected providers, chosen through an application process overseen by ARIIA’s Aged Care Collaborative Advisory Group, will each receive up to $120,000, matched by their own contributions.

ARIIA chief Reuben Jacob said this collaborative effort represents a positive step towards addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing the country’s aged care sector.

“Rather than working in silos, we need to encourage a more collaborative and innovative approach to solve the most difficult and pervasive problems,” he said.

“We want to offer more education and career pathways to aged care workers, better sharing of data to inform decisions, and better management of wound care and pressure injuries, as this could improve quality of life for older Australians and reduce hospital admissions.

“The Flagship Projects bring together providers from diverse contexts with the expertise to develop scalable solutions that can be adopted more broadly across the sector with the ultimate aim to improve the holistic wellbeing and quality of care for older Australians.”

The projects are divided into two key areas: workforce enhancement and data literacy.

Enhancing workforce strategies

Six providers will participate in Flagship Project 1, focusing on enhancing role clarity, communication, and career pathways through a flexible leadership model. This initiative aims to combat workforce pressures such as staff workload, burnout, and retention issues.

By clarifying roles, responsibilities, and communication channels, as well as providing more opportunities for career advancement, the project seeks to improve staff engagement, collaboration, and ultimately, the quality of care.

This project builds on the success of a previous ARIIA-funded pilot and will involve a co-design process incorporating feedback from staff, leadership, clients, and families.

The participating providers are:

• Australian Unity (St Patrick’s Green, NSW)
• Benetas (St George’s, Vic)
• Beaumont Care (Kippa-Ring, Qld)
• Feros Care (Gold Coast, Qld)
• Integrated Living (Far North Coast, NSW)
• Life Without Barriers (Darling Downs, Qld)

Empowering data literacy

The remaining eight providers will participate in Flagship Project 2, which aims to empower aged care staff with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to use data more effectively to improve care quality.

The project will focus on routinely collected data related to pressure injuries and wound care. Participants will engage in capability building processes to develop and implement data-driven improvement projects.

The participating providers are:

• Alwyndor (Adelaide, SA)
• Bolton Clarke Home and Community Support (Melbourne, Vic)
• Elderbloom Community Care Centres (Perth, WA)
• Fronditha Care (St Albans, Vic)
• Glow Health Care Australia (Sydney/Regional NSW)
• Lifeview (Willow Wood, Vic)
• Regents Garden (Scarborough, WA)
• Warrigal (Wollongong, NSW)

Holly Sparrow – ARIIA’s senior manager, strategic projects – highlighted the diversity among the grant recipients and how this is key to delivering tangible outcomes for the whole of the Australian aged care sector.

“The selected sites represent a diverse mix of metropolitan and regional providers, small and large organisations, as well as residential and home care services, ensuring the learnings and outcomes are relevant to a broad range of providers,” she said.

“ARIIA, along with a selection of subject matter experts, will provide each organisation with ongoing tailored support, and we are excited to facilitate the collaboration and shared learning within the projects and across the sector.”