General News
21 February, 2025
Taking learning to the people
A development program led by South West TAFE has spread to aged-care facilities across Australia, including in the Wimmera.
In doing so, across the state it has introduced more than 110 new trainees to an industry that's desperate for new staff.
Co-ordinator and personal support teacher Robert Peoples said the lab had worked with 33 partner providers across 24 locations, including Ararat, Hindmarsh, Horsham and West Wimmera.
The Aged Care Mobile Skills Lab takes training on the road to rural areas to address chronic shortages in the sector.
It allows learners located remotely to enter a Certificate III in Individual Support traineeship and be trained at their own workplace.
Last year it won the Industry Collaboration Award at the Victorian Training Awards and went on to secure bronze at the national titles.
“It has gone well beyond what we thought it might be,” Mr Peoples said.
“We believe the mobile skills lab is ideal to bring training to those areas isolated.
“It used to be that everyone had to come to us but now we’re focused on taking everything to you, regardless of where you are.”
The lab is a purpose-built motorhome refurbished with funding from the Victorian Government.
It simulates an aged-care room and has a custom-built annex that can house 12 students for a class.