BOORT District had supported more than half its staff with further training and education in the past year.
Board chair Wendy Gladman told Monday’s annual general meeting that staff had been part of the Clinician to Manager accelerated learning program, responding to Unwanted Behaviour and Occupational Violence and Aggression Training, Leadership Training with On Track, certificate and diploma courses.
She said Boort Health had increased its services in 2022-2023.
“Our year finished up with transition to delivery of community home based services,” she said.
“New recruits have been employed to compliment the current team to deliver home care, personal care, flexible respite, meals on wheels, social support groups and individual activities and property maintenance.”
Mrs Gladman and CEO Donna Doyle also highlighted the importance of partnerships with other health and allied health services.
“The close working relationship with Ambulance Victoria has continued and weekly in-house training and education sessions relevant to our urgent care presentations are now well established and continue to be streamed via Teams to enable staff who are off duty to attend,” they said.
“There has been a significant increase in partnerships with tertiary education facilities to offer placement to 46 enrolled nursing students. 
“(We) continue to offer placements for secondary school students for their years 10 and 11 work experience programs. 
“In collaboration with the North Central LLEN and Boort District School, we have hosted a number of structured workplace learning placements for students studying a VET Certificate in fields such as allied health and assistant in nursing.
“... it is now time for us as the rural health providers in the region to start thinking innovatively and outside the square in regard to how we can recruit, retain and sustain our workforce. Attracting health professionals to rural areas has long been an ongoing challenge and it is becoming even more critical to look deeper for these individuals
“The development of the junior staff program has progressed and now host a junior employee across seven days of the week.”