Learning Organisations

Agile organisations are fundamental to the delivery of excellence in aged care in view of the escalating numbers of people who will be living with dementia as the Australian population ages. The Wicking Centre is committed to working with provider organisations to drive innovative approaches to future service needs, including embedding a culture of learning in aged care organisations so they are "research ready", barriers to innovation are understood and challenged, and teaching becomes a core function of the Aged Care sector.

A nurse and an ederly woman sitting outdoors

Aged Care Learning Organisations

This research area focuses on building capacity of staff and management within organisations involved in the delivery of care to people with dementia. In particular we are interested in the development of leadership capability at all levels of the organisation so they are ready for change. Such an approach requires the deep involvement of all organisational stakeholders and key partners.

Our approach focuses on 'whole-of-organisation' change which is, in part, aimed at improved aged care provider business practices which lead to improved staff and resident outcomes. This emphasis on the whole organisation and capacity building among management and staff is ultimately intended to lead to improved health outcomes for aged care facility residents.

Completed Projects

Teaching Residential Aged Care Facilities (TACFs)

The Wicking TACF Program has established proof of concept that it is possible to have large-scale inter-professional healthcare student placements in ACFs that provide positive learning outcomes for students and also benefit residents. The program has also introduced new cohorts of students to aged care placements including medical, paramedic, exercise physiology, psychology and pharmacy students.

More than 800 students from eight disciplines were involved in inter-professional student placements between 2011 and 2014 as part of the overall Wicking TACF Program. Importantly, over 100 aged care staff have been actively engaged in action research mentorship groups designed to build their capacity and capability to facilitate evidence-based learning experiences for students. Although the funded TACF Program is complete, inter-professional student placement programs are ongoing in participating facilities.

The Dementia Care Support Worker: trialling a new role in aged care

In collaboration with Masonic Care Tasmania, and supported by funding from the Masonic Centenary Medical Research Foundation, the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre and Masonic Care Tasmania, Dr Emma Lea recently completed a 2-year project to explore the implementation of  the Dementia Care Support Worker role, a new role for a care worker who has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Dementia Care.  The goal of this project was to develop the role, evaluate its impact and generated a framework for modelling new aged care roles which capitalise on the strengths of care worker graduates of the Bachelor of Dementia Care.

The intent of the Dementia Care Support Worker is to drive evidence-based practice, support quality of life of residents living with dementia, and mentor and coach staff and family in dementia care.  Supported by a small team comprising key Masonic Care Tasmania managers, staff and the Wicking Dementia Centre, the Dementia Care Support Worker undertook activities such as responding to requests from staff for support for residents; working with residents and their families directly; working with care staff to inform and implement improvements to care practices; facilitating uptake of dementia education opportunities for staff; and providing structured and ad hoc dementia education for staff, family and students.  The Wicking Dementia Centre led evaluation of the processes around development of this new care worker role, and the impact of this role on other staff and on residents in the aged care facility.

This project identified ways to maximise the benefits of the role, which include staff training and education about dementia, trialling new approaches to care and supporting family.  The Dementia Care Support Worker role holds much promise as a way for a care worker graduate to contribute to optimising care approaches to dementia care.