Aged care providers boast a boosted workforce and technology advancements in end of year reports

The Illawarra’s largest aged care providers have revealed their successes from the past year, with workforce quality and size at the forefront of milestones along with the technological advancements that streamlined services.

In its annual report, IRT boasted the completion of the workforce initiative Project Welcome which helped boost the workforce by more than 150 people.

“During the year we addressed critical workforce shortages through overseas recruitment initiatives – with staff joining us from around the globe, including Fiji and the Philippines,” IRT CEO Patrick Reid said.

Targeted recruitment incentives also helped the aged care provider meet the requirements of 24/7 registered nurse coverage in all of its centres.

But improving the workforce wasn’t just about new employees, with the provider also improving its retention of current workers with the voluntary staff turnover reducing to 19.96 per cent from 33.2 per cent in 2022/23.

Aged care provider Warrigal also reduced its employee turnover with the attrition rate dropping from 25 per cent to 17 per cent, by implementing changes to better support and retain its team.

The steps Warrigal took to improve employee retention included overhauling its onboarding process to make it more supportive and engaging for new staff members, and providing hands-on learning opportunities for younger staff to help them integrate into their roles.

It also launched the Employee Value Proposition, an initiative to show its dedication to supporting and nurturing its team and also enhancing workplace culture.

Warrigal’s staff not only became more consistent but also more inclusive with the establishment of a ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ working party.

The provider already boasts an 81 per cent female workforce, with three out of the seven directors and 78 per cent of managers also female.

Both organisations celebrated long-term employees who have been integral to their successes, with 451 employees at IRT having reached more than 10 years of service as of 30 June, and a further 25 reaching more than 25 years service.

Although the people are key to the operations at each aged care facility, technological and systematic upgrades and advances helped streamline services and made operations more efficient.

An AI falls predictor system developed and implemented by IRT won Australian Technology Project of the Year and Best Health Project at the iTNews Benchmarks Awards 2024.

IRT also introduced an electronic National Residential Medication Chart as part of a broader medication management system which eliminates the need for paper prescriptions or medication charts and a pharmacist pilot program, laying the groundwork for IRT’s Aged Care On-site Pharmacist model in 2024/2025.

“Fifty-five years ago, Dr Max Diment and his colleagues established IRT to uphold the dignity and wellbeing of older Australians in safe and supportive environments. This legacy continues to guide our work every day,” Mr Reid said.

“In what was a year of significant change and achievement, we held firm to the values of our founders, always striving to improve the lives of older Australians.”

IRT had 2721 aged care residents across 2059 villas and apartments with thousands more home care customers benefitting from its services.

Warrigal had 2332 residents and achieved 100 per cent compliance with all 546 requirements in its 13 homes for the first time in more than a decade.

Both organisations are also in the midst of expansions, with Warrigal commencing construction of a new community village in Lake Illawarra and IRT taking over Unanderra’s Marco Polo facilities and revitalising other key locations.

“We’re working to renew IRT Woonona, creating housing that supports older Australians through every stage of ageing,” Mr Reid said. “Similarly, we’re breathing new life into our original seniors’ living complex on Staff Street in Wollongong, now known as Diment.”

Both IRT’s annual report and Warrigal’s annual report are available on their respective websites.