Australia invests $31.2m in aged care virtual nursing project

Following an Australian Government investment of $31.2 million, Amplar Home Health Pty Ltd will carry out development and testing of a virtual nursing framework in up to 30 residential aged care homes.

The project — anticipated to run from March 2025 until 30 June 2027 — will focus on supporting residential aged care providers in rural and remote areas, and those that support older people of First Nations or culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

How virtual nursing services can support older people in aged care homes to access consistent, high-quality care when and where they need it will be explored in the trial.

The virtual nursing in aged care project, while not a replacement for face-to-face care, seeks to build evidence of how virtual care services can further enhance the provision of care, providing residential aged care homes and onsite staff with access to additional clinical expertise to support the delivery of high-quality care to older people.

“Under the Albanese government there is now a registered nurse onsite in aged care homes 99% of the time and our requirement for 24/7 nursing is not changing,” Australia’s Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said.

“Last year, the government released a Professional FrameWork to support the aged care workforce and encouraging innovation is one of the eight goals we are prioritising,” Wells added. “This investment demonstrates how we are pursuing innovation in aged care for the benefit of older people and to support the workforce in thin markets.”

An evaluation of the project will be conducted by La Trobe University. Consideration will be given in the evaluation to the impact of virtual care on clinical outcomes, workforce and service sustainability.

The ‘Professional FrameWork — to build and strengthen the aged care workforce’ is available to read here, via the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care website.

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