Submission on the Skills IQ Reimagined Personal Care Worker Discussion Paper - July 2020
Submission on the Skills IQ Reimagined Personal Care Worker Discussion Paper - July 2020
Thursday, August 06, 2020This submission by PCA responds to the Reimagined Personal Care Worker Discussion Paper by the Aged Care Services Industry Reference Committee. PCA has long argued that palliative care needs to be recognised as part of the normal scope of practice of residential aged care and as a core competency for all aged care workers in both residential and community aged care, including Personal Care Workers (PCWs). During the COVID-19 pandemic residential aged care facilities have struggled to manage the increased demands of COVID-19 patients, including their palliative care needs. If PCWs were to receive more training in areas such as palliative care, advance care planning, grief and bereavement they would be better placed to handle COVID-19 outbreaks and other emergency events.
Submission on the Reimagined Personal Care Worker Discussion Paper