New Aged Care Training Program for People with Disabilities a Success

A pilot program designed for people with intellectual disability to kick-start a career in the growing aged care industry has been hailed a success ahead of the participants' graduation next week.

The ten week program, a collaboration between IRT Group and The Flagstaff Group, has seen participants complete three work placements at IRT William Beach Gardens in Kanahooka as part of their training to complete four units towards a Certificate III in Individual Care.

IRT Group CEO, Nieves Murray, said that the program also explores the potential for aged care providers like IRT to diversify their workforce – vital in an industry where a recent job market report found there were four times the number of jobs than there were workers.

"The successful delivery of this innovative program is truly a momentous achievement," Ms Murray said.

"I'm really excited for next week's graduation, which will mark the end of our first purpose-built training program for people with intellectual disability, and the start of what we hope will be a rewarding, fulfilling career in aged care for our seven graduates.

"Participants have already completed three work placements at IRT William Beach Gardens, so they may choose to undertake further studies and seek employment within IRT, or elsewhere in the aged care industry."

Participants of the program, as well as Ms Murray and Flagstaff Group CEO Roy Rogers, recently sat down with the Hon John Ajaka MLC, Minister for Disability Services and Minister for Ageing, to reflect on the success of the program, and discuss the potential roll out beyond the Illawarra region.

Minister Ajaka was impressed with the partnership between IRT and Flagstaff and what's been achieved in providing the seven participants with tangible skills, training and experience in the aged care industry. He has asked the two organisations to collaborate on a formal review, that will help to inform the future direction of the program.

One of the program's participants, Jordan Bowater, told Minister Ajaka that when offered the opportunity to participate in the program, he jumped at the chance.

"I've tried a few different things since completing my HSC, but nothing really worked out for me. I'm always looking to gain new skills and experience, so I'm really excited to finish the 10 week course, and potentially find employment in the aged care industry," Mr Bowater said.

Click here to find out more about IRT Group's aged care homes & retirement villages.

Pictured:  IRT Group CEO Nieves Murray (on arm of chair), Flagstaff Group CEO Roy Rogers, The Hon John Akaka MLA and CareerAbility in Aged Care Program participants with IRT College employees.