Funded through the Department of Health and Ageing ‘Better Skills Better Care’ initiative, the Diploma of Nursing (pre-enrolment) is targeted at a predominantly mature aged workforce, including both RSL Care employees and aged care workers from other organisations.

“The Diploma of Nursing program is specifically designed to meet the needs of the broader aged care industry - 50 per cent of the current enrolments are made up of aged care workers from other organisations,” said Darlene Tulloch, RSL Care’s Employee Development Manager.

“Aged care workers typically have less formal education, have multiple caring responsibilities and are often the primary breadwinner. Therefore the program is designed to allow this group to combine work and home life while studying in a supportive environment.”

The partnership with Southbank Institute is the first to provide a comprehensive and holistic approach to ‘recognition of prior learning’, creating a profile of a typical aged care worker with standard industry qualifications and designing an articulation pathway through to the Diploma level.

“This has a number of benefits – firstly it acknowledges the life and work experience of our workforce; secondly, it reduces the length of the program; and thirdly it builds learning opportunities into the current work experience”, Mrs Tulloch said.

“RSL Care’s strategic intent to be a leader in the aged care sector is clearly evident in our whole-of-industry approach to training and development.

“The program also fits very well within RSL Care’s innovative Career Pathways Model which focuses on supporting staff in their learning journey, with generous scholarships and flexible learning pathways.”

RSL Care is one of Australia’s most respected not-for-profit providers of retirement villages, residential care and home care services to the broader community. From simple beginnings in 1936, RSL Care has grown to accommodate over 3200 people in 20 retirement communities located in Queensland and northern New South Wales.