Revamped My Aged Care Workforce Learning Strategy 2023 to meet high-quality service standards

The Australian government has recently released the My Aged Care Workforce Learning Strategy 2023, which outlines the minimum training requirements and capabilities required for the My Aged Care workforce.

This Strategy replaces the 2019 My Aged Care Screening and Assessment Workforce Training Strategy and has been renamed as a learning strategy to reflect the blended approach to learning, including online training, on-the-job learning and three-way learner appraisal discussion formats.

The Learning Strategy and the Quality Learning Framework (QLF) aims to provide quality learning and training for the My Aged Care workforce to deliver consistent, reliable, and high-quality information and services for older people. The scope of this Strategy encompasses My Aged Care workforce roles within organisations delivering My Aged Care contracted by the Department of Health and Aged Care.

This Strategy defines the training responsibilities of workforce organisations, the department’s appointed Training Partner, and the department itself. The My Aged Care workforce roles covered in the Strategy include Customer Solutions Specialists (CSS) in the My Aged Care Contact Centre, Aged Care Specialist Officers (ACSO) in selected Services Australia service centres, Home Support Assessors in Regional Assessment Services (RAS), Comprehensive Assessors in Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT), and workplace trainers and Aged Care Assessment Team Education Officers.

The My Aged Care Training Reference Group (MACTRG) is a key forum for consultation and collaboration on learning and training needs across the My Aged Care workforce. MACTRG consists of representatives from HealthDirect, Services Australia, State and Territory government’s Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs), Regional Assessment Services (RAS) organisations, the department’s Training Partner, consumer group and peak bodies, and the department itself.

The My Aged Care workforce minimum training requirements have been designed to ensure that the My Aged Care workforce can develop and maintain the knowledge and skills required to undertake their role within the My Aged Care operational environment. These minimum training requirements support the delivery of consistent, reliable, and high-quality My Aged Care services for older Australians, their carers/families, and representatives.

The Australian government is currently delivering reforms to improve aged care, and this Strategy (2023) is an interim Strategy that will be updated in 2024 to reflect relevant aged care reforms as they are implemented for My Aged Care.

To deliver services to a My Aged Care organisation, minimum training is required. The minimum training requirements for the workforce are detailed in the QLF. Staff who provide information, administration or support roles working in organisations delivering My Aged Care can access online learning without the need to undertake a department-mandated appraisal.

The My Aged Care Workforce Learning Strategy 2023 will ensure that the My Aged Care workforce has the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver consistent, reliable, and high-quality My Aged Care services to older Australians, their carers/families, and representatives.

Ritchelle Drilon

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Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.

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