I am delighted about what Bupa and WomenCAN Australia are doing together.
Collaboration is clearly one of the best ways of actually helping make the place just a little bit better and fairer.
We here today know this is true, don’t we?
This collaboration we’re unveiling is a model.
It is a model for matching the needs of women and employers. Mutual interest. Maybe enlightened self-interest on both sides, if you will.
It is a model for providing a path to independence for women who, in so many cases, have had to deal with disadvantage not of their own making.
Who have had to deal with it while caring for others.
Strong, capable women. The sort of people you’d want to have in your team, in your organisation.
This collaboration between Bupa and WomenCAN Australia provides women a path to financial independence through free training and a guaranteed job.
Everyone wins.
The women get that training, get those jobs, get that crucial independence.
Employers get great staff.
Communities get strengthened.
Economies get stimulated – the pie gets bigger.
And people get a chance to thrive.
A lot of public debate feels like conflict, but most people share a belief in decency and opportunity.
The thing that most matters is what we might actually do to make the things a little better and fairer.
Well, this collaboration is doing something – something that demonstrates how government, private enterprise, and not-for-profit organisations can and should work together.
WomenCAN Australia is immensely proud of its unique peer support initiative, The Placement Circle, which is based on more than 40 years of research.
The Placement Circle is women striding the path to financial independence side by side.
It is as defining and differentiating feature of our work.
Huge thanks again to our partners – let’s hope this marks the beginning of something that can grow and grow. And thank you all for coming.
Tara Kirk
Operations Manager Vocational Training & Employment Programs
WomenCAN Australia
Bupa Media Release
Bupa and WomenCAN Australia partner to give women a second career in aged care
Bupa has joined with leading charity, WomenCAN Australia, to offer new training and employment opportunities for women looking to re-enter the workforce and have a fulfilling career in aged care.
The partnership supports women from vulnerable backgrounds, such as migrants, refugees and older women who are economically disadvantaged, equipping them to enter the aged care workforce through training, work placements and ongoing support and networking.
30 women will commence paid traineeships across a range of carer, kitchen, maintenance and other roles in Bupa aged care homes in regional Victoria. The first eight women have already begun their placements at Bupa Echuca and Bupa Bendigo.
Bupa Aged Care and Villages Managing Director Andrew Kinkade said the partnership is an innovative way to both grow the aged care workforce and enable vulnerable women to have a real impact in caring for older Australians in regional Australia.
“The workforce shortage in aged care is particularly severe in regional Australia. Many homes in regional Australia are declining new residents due to insufficient workforce, which is placing a strain on regional health systems. As the largest provider of aged care in regional Australia, we are delighted to be partnering with WomenCAN to welcome new team members to our regional homes”, said Mr Kinkade.
“We’ve already had wonderful feedback from both our new team members and our residents and families. The most important thing for us is the relationships formed between our residents and team members. Our new team members have great life experience and values and with the right training and support, they will excel and play a valued role in supporting older Australians.”
WomenCAN Australia is a charity which assists vulnerable women at risk of financial insecurity, including homelessness, to attain new skills and build independence.
“This sort of collaboration benefits everyone involved and actually really does change women’s lives by supporting them along a path we’ve proven leads to financial independence,” said WomenCAN Australia CEO and founder Mikaela Stafrace.
“What BUPA and WCA are doing together provides a model. We plan to get more and more women into training and jobs.’’
All participants will be supported by on-the-job training in Bupa’s aged care homes, including external training through an accredited program. Once they have successfully completed the training, participants will be offered a permanent role with Bupa.
