On 2 October 2024, aged care providers participated in a pivotal webinar hosted by the Allied Health Assistant National Association (AHANA). The session explored how AHANA can help them to increase the accessibility of key services required for maintaining health and improving quality of life of older Australians by utilising AHANA practising members in the provision of allied health services.

As the move towards mandatory registration of direct care workers in aged care progresses, self-regulation/certification frameworks (like AHANA's for AHAs) are increasingly being recognised for what they are, important tools for:

• supporting quality and safety standards of the workforce: and
• providing service recipients, their families and carers, and employers confidence in the levels of support and care being provided by AHANA practising members .

With significant regulatory changes on the horizon for the aged care sector, the webinar offered essential insights for employers:

• The role of AHANA in workforce certification and quality assurance in aged care.
• Developing a self-regulated workforce that meets the stringent standards of the aged care sector.
• Accessing practical tools and resources through AHANA to support workforce development and compliance.

This webinar is just one of the ways AHANA is advocating for AHAs, educating and informing on the value of integrating AHAs into organisations across the health and care sectors. This integration benefits not only the organisations but also the clients receiving services and the AHAs themselves. AHANA's certification scheme supports increased recognition of the pivotal role AHAs play in these sectors and supports AHAs for their ongoing development and careers.

Aged care provider representatives left the webinar with actionable knowledge and tools to ensure their workforce remains compliant, maintaining high standards of care and safeguarding both employees and aged care recipients as they navigate the upcoming changes.

Webinar recording

You can view a recording of this webinar online, today.