Source: Office of the Minister for Community Services, Hon Gavin Jennings

Media release

From the Minister for Community Services

Tuesday, 6 March 2007

BUILDING A BETTER COMMUNITY CARE WORKFORCE

Community Services Minister Gavin Jennings today launched a new human resources kit to recruit and train community care workers across Victoria.

Mr Jennings said Victoria’s community care workforce needs to grow to ensure frail older Victorians and people with disabilities continue to receive quality care as demand for these services increases.

“Community care workers help people at home with housework, cooking, showering and dressing and provide respite care and social support for people who are isolated,” he said.

“Staff shortages, an ageing workforce, more job choices for women aged 40 to 60 and the surge in community care work will require continuous improvement in recruitment, selection and training.”

Mr Jennings said more than 236,000 Victorians receive HACC services through some 500 local councils, health services and non-government agencies.

“Their job numbers have risen by 70 per cent since 1991 but more staff are needed, as Victoria’s population will grow over the next 10 years,” he said.
 
Launching the kit at a seminar on the New Entrant Development Project, Mr Jennings said it was the first time such material had been provided to community care providers in the one place.

“This new Community Care Worker Human Resources Kit will help services attract extra staff, including more men and young people,” he said.

“It details best practice recruitment, selection and training and will help service providers attract and retain the best people for the job.”

The Commonwealth and State and Territory governments jointly fund the HACC program, which in Victoria totals $440 million in 2006-07.

“Over the next four years, the Bracks Government has committed an extra $79.5 million for these important programs,” Mr Jennings said.

Mr Jennings said the kit released today had been developed by six local government and community organisations in association with the Municipal Association of Victoria and Aged & Community Care Victoria.

The Community Care Worker Human Resources Kit is available on the Department of Human Services Internet website at: www.health.vic.gov.au/hacc