Reducing injuries to residential aged care workers

(19 July 2022)

On 15 June, ReturnToWorkSA and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation SA Branch (ANMFSA) launched a partnership to run a 2 year Best Practice Guidelines program aimed at reducing injuries among health care workers at residential aged care facilities.

The program provides a structured, evidence-based methodology for organisations to prepare, implement and evaluate evidence-based practice in a way that is sustainable over time.

Each year, ReturnToWorkSA will provide $30,000 grants to 5 registered employers in the residential aged care sector that will enable their leadership and staff to participate in the program’s improvement activities.

ANMFSA will run the program, where the ANMFSA Lead will support residential aged care employers by mentoring, coaching and training nominated Project Leads and staff from participating sites to become Best Practice Champions. Education and support can be tailored to the needs of the individuals and all best practice recommendations will be linked to the Aged Care Standards. The site Project Leads will continue to be supported through the project with both individual and joint coaching sessions run by the ANMFSA Lead.

The aged care industry lodges 800 work injury claims each year with annual claims costs (excluding serious injury) of $20 million. The average claims cost is higher than the Scheme average, the claim duration rate is higher than the Scheme average, and the portion of psychological claims is higher.

ReturnToWorkSA CEO Michael Francis said “supporting meaningful, preventative initiatives such as this is an effective way to minimise claims costs, support employers to improve workplace safety and reduce potentially life-changing injuries.

“ReturnToWorkSA is really proud to engage with the aged care industry to fund the program, to improve the health of aged care workers and most importantly use this international, evidence-based approach.”

Residential aged care providers in South Australia interested in applying for a grant and learning more about how the Best Practice Guidelines program can benefit their workplace can contact Nicola Williams, Project Officer, ANMFSA on 08 8334 1952 or nicola.williams@anmfsa.org.au.