La Trobe University will train 2800 aged care nurses in comprehensive health assessments to reduce emergency department presentations and hospital delays as part of Victorian health workforce crisis response.

A $3.77 million government investment will train nearly 3000 aged care nurses across Victoria in skills designed to keep elderly patients out of hospital emergency departments and reduce discharge delays.

La Trobe University’s Australian Centre for Evidence-Based Aged Care (ACEBAC) will deliver 140 free three-day workshops over three years starting August 2025, targeting comprehensive health assessment skills that support early intervention and improved healthcare outcomes.

The Commonwealth Government grant, managed by the Victorian Department of Health under the Strengthening Medicare – Supporting Older Australians package, represents the fifth successful government funding win for La Trobe’s health assessment program since 2011.

“Government support is crucial to meet the growing needs of our aged care workforce and this helps solidify our position as the partner of choice for health professional clinical education,” said La Trobe Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell.

The funding addresses mounting pressure on Victoria’s health system, with Commonwealth and Victorian governments working together to avoid unnecessary hospital presentations and reduce discharge delays among older patients.

Professor Farrell said the investment adds to the university’s $170 million commitment across health teaching, research and innovation to address Victoria’s health workforce crisis.

“We welcome the support from the Commonwealth and Victorian Government; this funding will allow us to train Victorian nurses working in aged care to ensure they use best practice research,” Professor Farrell said.

“La Trobe is heavily investing in education, infrastructure and partnerships to ensure we are a leading player in developing Victoria’s future health workforce through building state-of-the art facilities and additional training capacity to deliver skilled clinicians to where they are needed most.”

ACEBAC Director Professor Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh said the program builds on more than a decade of success, having delivered 190 workshops to nurses caring for older people and supported evidence-based resource development since 2011.

“Comprehensive health assessment training significantly improves both confidence and knowledge among nurses caring for older people. This enhanced knowledge allows them to make more accurate assessments and informed decisions, ultimately improving resident outcomes,” Professor Fetherstonhaugh said.

“This ensures our nurses are well-equipped and supported to meet the growing demands of Victoria’s aged care sector.”

The workshops will be delivered by La Trobe’s Australian Institute for Primary Care and Ageing through ACEBAC, focusing on skills that help nurses conduct thorough health assessments of older people to identify issues before they require emergency intervention.

The funding forms part of a broader $144.2 million Commonwealth investment over four years in Victoria, delivering nine initiatives to improve health and care for older people through early intervention, reduced emergency department presentations and addressing discharge delays where safe and appropriate.