IMPORTANT UPDATE:
ACCPA’s Nursing Transition to Practice Programs
ACCPA is pleased to announce that it has been successfully awarded the tender for the delivery of the Aged Care Transition to Practice Program.
This significant achievement is a testament to ACCPA’s commitment to providing expert education and support for nurses in the aged and community care sector.
The Aged Care Transition to Practice Program is designed to equip nursing professionals with the skills and knowledge required to deliver quality aged and community care. Through this program, ACCPA will provide nurse learners with a comprehensive learning experience, combining online professional development sessions, mentorship and portfolio development.
We are proud to have been funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care to deliver this important program and look forward to working with aged and community care providers across Australia to ensure its success.
ACCPA is excited to contribute to the development of the sector’s nursing workforce and we look forward to facilitating ACCPA’s Nursing Programs from May 2025.
We will provide further information on the 2025 program intakes shortly.
If you have any questions regarding the information above, please contact
Aged and Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) is the national Industry Association for aged care providers offering retirement living, seniors housing, residential care, home care, community care and related services.
This Aged Care Nurse Transition to Practice Programs are facilitated by ACCPA on behalf of partner Aged Care Providers.
The Aged and Community Care Sector is one of the fastest growing and rapidly developing industries in Australia, providing secure employment opportunities with structured career pathways. Attraction to the industry and workforce shortages can be a real challenge at times. Recognising the importance of investing in the future of the industry and the need to develop first class clinicians and leaders, the ACCPA Transition to Practice Programs provide organisations with 3 cohorts of nurse applicants:
- Graduate Registered Nurse (<2 years, first year of practice)
- Graduate Enrolled Nurse (<2 years, first year of practice)
- Transitioning Registered Nurses (>2 years, first year of practice in Aged and Community)
OUR PROGRAMS
| Graduate Registered Nurse (<2 years, first year of practice)
| This innovative 12-month program provides guidance to Graduate Registered Nurses in their first year of clinical practice through mentorship, on-line professional development sessions presented by expert clinicians and portfolio development. The aim of this program is to ensure graduated nurses become confident, safe, competent, and professional practitioners within the organisation and choose to stay working within the Sector. |
| Graduate Enrolled Nurse (<2 years, first year of practice)
| This innovative 12-month program provides guidance to Graduate Enrolled Nurses in their first year of clinical practice through mentorship, on-line professional development sessions presented by expert clinicians and portfolio development. The aim of this program is to ensure graduated enrolled nurses receive the support and education they require as they enter the workforce. |
| Transitioning Registered Nurses (>2 years, first year of practice in Aged and Community)
| This innovative 6-month program recognises prior knowledge and experience and provides support to Transitioning Registered Nurses as they enter clinical practice in the aged care sector. Participants will undertake a mix of set professional development activities as well as selecting electives. The program would be ideal for Registered Nurses wanting to take on additional leadership responsibilities eg: Clinical Nurse Managers, Facility Manager. |
NURSING PROGRAM REGISTER
The Nursing Program Register is accessible on the Workforce Hub for partner organisations. Once organisations partner with us, they will gain access to the most comprehensive register in the Aged and community Care sector – making it easy for you to find new nurse talent across Australia.
The Nurse Register lists the current applicants who are available for roles as Graduate RN’s, Graduate EN’s or Transitioning RN’s. All have been attracted by ACCPA to be employed by an Aged & Community Care Provider.
Partner organisations will be able to access contact details, qualifications and employment history of nurses who are ready to work in Aged and Community Care.
Nurses employed from the Nursing Program Register must be enrolled in the next intake of ACCPA’s Nursing Program.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Aged Care Organisations
Aged care organisations actively participate in the Transition to Practice Programs by:
- Promoting the programs
- Interviewing and recruiting right-fit graduates to participate in the program
- Identifying experienced Registered Nurses to mentor, guide, and support the transition nurses from the start to the completion of the programs
- Preparing the workplace for new nurses to enter
- Ensuring participating nurses are available to attend professional development sessions
- Supporting on the job learning and development through the creation and implementation of individual support plans and clinical assessment.
- Attending national reference group meetings.
ACCPA’s Coordination Role
As coordinator, ACCPA has an overall role in directing the program, including:
- Facilitation of the ACCPA Transition to Practice Reference Group
- Recruitment of applicants and be the conduit between organisations and nurses wanting to work in the industry via the ACCPA Workforce Hub.
- Design, develop and deliver a robust, contemporaneous online program.
- Provision of experienced Nurse Educators who are responsible for participant and organisation engagement and content delivery experts.
- Supporting mentors through training and networking opportunities
- Organising Induction and Community of Practice forums for participants
- Programming and building the learning management system, Moodle as a warehouse for resources and learning assessments.
- Keeping in regular contact with the graduates, mentors, and organisations throughout the program.
Program Dates
| 2024 – 25 Intakes – TBC |
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Bronwyn Doyle RN
Program Leader, Aged Care Transition to Practice Programs
Aged & Community Care Providers Association Ltd
d: (07) 3472 9700 p: 1300 222 721 e:
ACCPA’s Aged Care Transition to Practice Program received funding from the Australian Government Department of Health.