RSL LifeCare has secured $170,000 from the NSW Government’s Return to Work Pathways Program to launch a new initiative aimed at addressing workforce shortages in aged care while opening up employment opportunities for women in regional New South Wales.
The initiative, titled Empowering Women, Supporting Veterans & Seniors, will provide aged care traineeships to up to 40 women in seven regional locations: Merimbula, Port Macquarie, Dubbo, Narrandera, Condobolin, Nowra and Wagga Wagga. The program targets regions where both job opportunities for women and access to aged care services are in short supply.
“At RSL LifeCare, we’re committed to building stronger, more resilient communities by creating meaningful employment pathways for women in regional areas,” said RSL LifeCare CEO Janet Muir. “This grant enables us to not only open new career pathways for women in regional NSW, but also deliver compassionate, skilled care for the veterans and seniors who depend on us. It’s a win for individuals, families and communities alike.”
Participants will receive formal training towards a nationally recognised qualification, along with paid placements to allow them to earn while they learn. Additional supports are designed to overcome common barriers women face when returning to work, such as transportation, digital access, and personalised mentoring.
“This is more than a jobs program,” added Ms Muir. “It’s about equipping women with the tools, confidence and qualifications they need to thrive, while ensuring our seniors receive the dignity and care they deserve.”
The program comes at a critical time. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, rural aged care providers face staff shortages of up to 20%, while women in regional NSW are 7.5% less likely to be in full-time work compared to their metropolitan counterparts (ABS, 2024).
The Regional Australia Institute estimates that supporting just 10 women into local employment can inject more than $860,000 into the regional economy annually, highlighting the program’s potential broader economic benefits.
The Return to Work Pathways Program, launched in 2022-2023, aims to help women overcome barriers to employment through targeted training, mentoring and support. This year, 10 projects received funding for their innovative and community-focused designs.
Director of Women NSW, Tanya Smyth, praised the selected projects, stating, “Once again, the Return to Work Pathways grant program was highly competitive. Each of the ten successful organisations have centred their design around the specific needs of the women their programs are designed to support. These programs are innovative and engaging, and they are primed to make a significant difference in the employment and economic outcomes of the participants.”
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
