SSI launches home care worker recruitment campaign

Settlement Services International (SSI) has launched a recruitment campaign to attract, train and provide ongoing support and long-term career opportunities to talent across NSW and the ACT as part of the Home Care Workforce Support Program (HCWSP).

Aged care is one of the top 10 industries most affected by skills shortages in Australia, with reports estimating that an additional 35,000 workers will be required every year to fill the growing demand.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the range of career opportunities available to home care workers. “We will identify, screen, upskill, mentor and place 4400 new talent across NSW and the ACT. We are putting training at the centre of this program,” said Iggy Pintado, Head of Home Care Workforce Support Program at SSI.

The HCWSP is open to candidates with different levels of education with a particular focus on soft skills, including empathy and patience. Applicants should also enjoy the company of seniors and be interested in ongoing learning. Successful participants will be provided with the opportunity to embark on a meaningful and long-term career in at-home aged care that offers flexible work hours and location, as well as continuing training and support.

Sonia Vignjevic, SSI’s General Manager for Clients, Partnerships and Business Growth, said, “More than a quarter of care workers in Australia come from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, so SSI with an extensive footprint across NSW’s multicultural community is uniquely placed to reach new talent within these groups. Our team will provide them with the preparation they need while being mindful of their background and leverage the strengths they can bring to their work in home aged care.”

The organisation aims to design talent retention plans to showcase how a home care worker can secure a steady job into the future. The recruitment efforts will be supported by a multichannel marketing campaign titled ‘Make a difference with every door you open’, celebrating the life-changing work and long-term career opportunities that at-home aged care offers. In the coming months, this campaign will be featured across social media, online and digital platforms.

SSI’s program partner, Eremea Home Care Services, supports the importance of the sector coming together to build a workforce that can care for Australia’s seniors today and into the future.

The HCWSP is an Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care funded initiative that looks to address the skills shortage in the sector and grow the country’s home care workforce by 13,000 over the next two years, until mid-2024. SSI is one of the six organisations appointed by the government to deliver this initiative.

Image credit: iStockphoto.com/Halfpoint