New Initiative Aims to Address Care Worker Shortages in Wimmera Southern Mallee

A novel project has been launched in the Wimmera Southern Mallee region to combat the increasing shortage of care workers in critical sectors.

The endeavor seeks to guide local residents in exploring career options, particularly focusing on overcoming the obstacles faced by individuals in smaller communities in Western Victoria when accessing education and training opportunities.

Spearheading this initiative is Dr. Cathy Tischler from the FRRC, who will lead the research efforts aimed at understanding the challenges preventing individuals from pursuing educational avenues and provide recommendations to industry stakeholders.

Preliminary data indicates a pressing demand for additional staffing in various sectors such as ECEC, aged care, disability support, and community assistance, with a spotlight on smaller communities where potential students have an interest in further education but struggle with traveling to Horsham.

Dr. Tischler emphasized, “We aim to commence our research in communities beyond Horsham, engaging with individuals facing barriers such as family care responsibilities, and childcare constraints which hinder their upskilling aspirations due to the challenges of commuting to and from Horsham.”

The project, set to span three years, will address the Wimmera Southern Mallee region’s unique employment landscape characterized by low population growth and minimal unemployment rates.

Through in-depth engagement with community members, Dr. Tischler believes the research will prompt residents to contemplate their career trajectories and potentially pave the way for targeted support initiatives, such as childcare assistance, to facilitate training opportunities.

Collaborating with Federation TAFE, the FRRC research will inform the design and implementation of customized vocational education programs tailored to the needs of students entering four pilot certificate-level courses, along with providing comprehensive support services and workforce mentoring.

Dr. Tischler underlined the significance of the research-driven approach, stating, “Our goal is to explore diverse solutions tailored to specific community needs, recognizing that challenges like lack of childcare can vary across different regions.”

The project, funded by a substantial grant exceeding $900,000, aligns with the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions‘ agenda to address skills gaps in priority sectors and enhance the efficacy of the training and TAFE system in meeting industry requirements.

Individuals interested in participating in the project or seeking further information are encouraged to reach out for details.