Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery yesterday opened the National Disability Insurance Scheme Training Centre at Bunbury’s South Regional TAFE campus, which will provide training for the aged care and disability sector.

The facility is part of the state Labor Government’s $4 million funding pledge to build specialist training facilities at regional TAFE colleges.

Leading Age Services Australia WA manager Liz Behjat thinks the new training centre will be a good contribution to regional aged care facilities.

“There’s a great shortage of aged care workers in the regional areas throughout Australia, especially in Western Australia,” she says.

She says it would be great for the state if some students who undertake training in Bunbury decide to stay in regional areas.

Mrs Behjat says the courses will be beneficial to not only the local community and the people who access age care services, but also people who are at a crossroads in their career.

“It’s a great opportunity for people to rethink a career change and move into the sector,” she says.

Bunbury mayor Gary Brennan welcomes the specialised training centre and says the facility will provide opportunity for advanced training in the aged care industry.

“I just welcome this specialised training centre. I don’t we’ve ever had anything like that before here,” he says.

He says he approves of the new ‘COVID-19 Direct Care skill set’, which is part of the course, because precautions in the aged care sector are vital.

Swancare Ningana aged care nurse Tanith Munyao says the new facility and courses will be a positive contribution to the aged care and disability industries.

“I think it’s a very positive step in training staff as long as they’ve, you know, researched the industry correctly and they’re training the [students] and they’re not rushing them through,” she says.