School’s in: Quirindi Care Services collaborates with local high school 

Regional aged care provider Quirindi Care Services is looking to engage the next generation of aged care workers after devising a collaborative program with Quirindi High School. 

With a local population of just over 2,600, Quirindi’s nearest major population hub is Tamworth, which is roughly an hour’s drive north. If you drive four hours south, you’ll hit Sydney.

Keen to develop strong career pathways for local residents, Quirindi Care Services (QCS) now offers school-based traineeships and volunteer opportunities for high school students at its residential care home, Eloura. Traineeships include the Certificate III Individual Support (Ageing & Disability) and Certificate IV Leisure & Health. 

The program builds on the foundations laid by past students who have already completed traineeships locally before pursuing a career in aged care. 

“Past students completing traineeships have either continued working with us or advanced their career further,” Casey Hatch, People, Culture and Safety Manager, explained.

This includes students who have progressed through to Enrolled Nurse qualifications.

“They get constant support and mentoring as they are buddied with another employee while on their traineeship. The confidence, sense of purpose, resilience, and rewards of working with our team hopefully flows over to their studies at school,” Ms Hatch added. 

Programs such as this that open up direct pathways into aged care can make all the difference for providers looking to grow their workforce. It can help entice local residents to remain in their community, allowing residents to be cared for by familiar faces they trust. 

“We believe that investing in our staff and valuing their needs leads to the best outcomes for our residents, community, volunteers, and, of course, the staff themselves. The positive ripple effect of this approach cannot be overstated,” Kim Riley, General Manager said.

“We hope that the students who come to us for training also experience this supportive workplace environment and carry these values with them into their future careers.”

QCS’ Eloura home has also tapped into the international talent market in recent years, welcoming staff from the Pacific Islands, Timor Leste and Nepal, to name a few. 

Additionally, it has utilised the Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) Nursing Transition to Practice Program to support staff in their career progression. One example includes Registered Nurse Amber Ferguson who received study leave to pursue her Bachelor of Nursing.

With a diverse approach to workforce development that’s essential in a regional setting, Ms Riley praised their latest initiative to strengthen community ties by partnering with Quirindi High School (QHS).

“It fosters a sense of community and provides opportunities for social engagement that can enhance physical health, mental well-being, and emotional resilience,” she added. 

The program also provides plenty of benefits for the students themselves. Raegan Schofield, Careers Adviser, QHS, said they’re learning how to apply employability skills in real-world settings so they can make informed decisions about their future. 

Feedback from employers like QCS also helps those students determine where their career strengths are, assisting in their personal and professional development.