Retaining employees
Creating a welcome, respectful and supportive workplace can help keep staff longer. Attractive working conditions such as flexible work arrangements, study leave and opportunities for career advancement are also helpful. It is important to communicate clearly with staff about the behaviours you value in your organisation.
If you are an NDIS provider, you may point your workers to the code of conduct for NDIS workers. Additionally, the NDIS Capability Framework sets out what good supports for NDIS participants looks like.
If you are an aged care provider, you should be familiar with the Code of Conduct for Aged Care which sets out standards of behaviour for providers, workers and governing bodies. There are guidance material and resources to help you understand your obligations.
You can also
- Provide diversity and cultural awareness training for employees. Find more tips in Developing a culturally safe workplace.
- Make sure support for staff is available if needed. This may be through a mentoring or peer-support program.
- Offer training and upskilling opportunities. This will not only result in more well-rounded, knowledgeable and specialised employees, but will also help keep them motivated and interested.
The BLCW program offers support for employers who want to talk to a specialist on how to retain and train staff. You can find out how to grow your workforce, view workforce demand in your area, or contact a Regional Coordinator directly.
The Workforce Advisory Service can support residential aged care and home care service providers to develop best practice workforce planning approaches, including strategies to build positive workplace cultures, retain staff and ensure staff have the right skills, training and knowledge to meet the care needs of senior Australians. You can find out more on the Workforce Advisory Service or apply directly for the service.
The Home Care Workforce Support Program can help aged care providers to recruit and train 13,000 new personal care workers to care for older people at home.
A range of programs are available to support staff training and professional development in the aged care sector, including free online training, scholarships and mentoring.
A 24/7 registered nurses (RN) supplement is available to eligible residential aged care services from 1 July 2023. The supplement will help deliver a RN onsite and on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Find more resources for employers.