BlueCare traineeships help vulnerable Queenslanders access essential care

Overview

• BlueCare - like the rest of the care sector - experiences employee attraction and retention challenges.
• To attract new workers and support existing employees to upskill, BlueCare engaged TAFE Queensland to deliver Certificate III in Individual Support qualifications.
• Via traineeships, BlueCare's personal carers can begin caring for clients immediately, and then progressively, up to their skill level.
• The training is delivered through a blended learning model - some training in person, some online.
• The success of the traineeship program is resulting in benefits not only for the organisation, its leaders, employees, and the sector as a whole but, most importantly, for care consumers.

Opportunity

BlueCare operates in a labour-intensive sector, where recruitment and retention challenges have escalated, along with demand for services.

One of BlueCare's most critical workforce challenges is securing the number of qualified personal carers required to achieve current and future business growth targets while maintaining high levels of care for those who need it most.

Solution

BlueCare's successful traineeship program with TAFE Queensland is helping to address staffing shortfalls by attracting new workers and upskilling existing workers. Trainees engaged in the program with TAFE Queensland are earning while they learn.

This qualification is delivered predominantly online with highly experienced TAFE Queensland teaching staff travelling to workplaces - where feasible - to assess trainees' progress, their understanding and practical execution of the course content.

BlueCare Training Coordinator Stephanie Richardson also monitors trainee progress, checking in with team leaders and trainees each month.

This approach allows BlueCare to employ much-needed staff immediately, who can take on personal care tasks, appropriate to their knowledge and skill level.

Results

As of February 2024, BlueCare's entire traineeship program enjoys an 84% retention rate. This subsequently helps to reduce employment costs (recruitment, orientation, supervision) - and improves BlueCare's ability to grow and potentially retain clients - essential for an ageing population.

Having access to skilled personal carers means BlueCare is able to offer more services and improve the overall quality of care provided, leading to better outcomes for consumers. The huge retention rate for trainees also means improved continuity of care.

Future Plans

BlueCare plans to continue its traineeship model given its success in helping to address critical workforce shortages and workforce turnover.

BlueCare views traineeships as a way of future-proofing its business, sharing that its services will be better positioned to meet growing client demand.