Eighty five graduate registered nurses will be staying in the aged care sector after completing the Aged & Community Care Providers Association Aged Care Transition to Practice Program.
ACCPA chief executive Tom Symondson congratulated the RNs, 75 of whom took part in the program over the past year, and ten transitioning RNs who joined the program for six months from other nursing fields.
"There is a critical shortage of RNs in aged care, something which has been well documented since before the pandemic, so every one of our graduates lights the way for others to follow, he said.
The graduate RNs are part of a federal government-funded nursing program which focuses on the critical workforce shortages in aged care by attracting more nurses to work in the sector.
Bronwyn Doyle, National Team Leader for ACCPA's Aged Care Transition to Nursing Program, said the program supports aged care nurses to start their careers in aged care with confidence.
"Nurses who work in aged care and community care environments have the privilege of building strong relationships with older people and their families, supporting quality of life to the end, and experiencing a sense of personal fulfilment that is difficult to find elsewhere," Ms Doyle said.
"Our program offers personalised service and ongoing support to aged care organisations, including recruiting nurse applicants wanting to work in the industry."
The next intakes for the ACCPA Nursing Transition Practice Programs for graduate enrolled and registered nurses and transitioning registered nurses start in August 2023.
