We all know that there are some amazing people working passionately in the aged care industry, but a recent survey suggests it’s facing a staffing crisis.
A YouGov Galaxy survey, commissioned by aged care provider Whiddon asked students from university, tertiary and TAFE if they’d contemplate working in aged care when they finish their studies.
Sadly, of the 500 questioned, 310 said it would be unlikely, but that does mean that 190 might be the future of the aged care workforce here in Australia.
However, academics questioned the relevance of the responses when no consideration was given to the subjects that students were studying, after-all, why would someone studying engineering consider the aged care industry?
Experts say this kind of survey should be directed towards students in nursing, medicine and similar professions, as it stands it doesn’t prove anything. All it does is highlight questions to ask and areas to examine round Australia’s future aged care industry, which we’d all welcome surely?
This latest survey echoes the findings of other studies but does suggest that there is an opportunity to make younger people aware of the diversity of roles in the contemporary aged care industry, which is set to grow significantly over the next decades.
The Royal Commission will also look at Australia’s future aged care workforce and how it can attract more diverse and empathetic people into the industry.
