Training for aged and community care in Australia, 2013

ASQA began this review in response to the Productivity Commission's 2011 report, Caring for Older Australians. The Productivity Commission’s review raised issues with the quality of the training of the aged and community care workforce.

The report makes 10 recommendations, involving both ASQA and VET sector stakeholders.

Review of the Aged and Community Care training package

In response to the review recommendations, a revised Aged and Community Care training package was introduced in December 2015. The new training package included:

• mandatory work placement of 120 hours in the core of the Certificate III and Certificate IV qualifications;
• a requirement that assessment in the workplace be undertaken in critical units, some requiring assessment first in a simulated environment prior to assessment in the workplace; and
• greater specification in the revised units HLTHPS006 Assist clients with medication and HLTHPS007 Administer and monitor medications, whereby assessment is to be undertaken by a Registered Nurse who is also a qualified VET assessor, and assessment must be undertaken in the workplace.

Aged and community care qualifications are included in audits where these courses are on the scope of registration of a RTO subject to an audit.