The new head of nursing at Baptcare Karingal Cara Shearer comes from the first intake of the transition to practice graduate nurse program which aims to increase the number of nurses in aged care. Darren Mathewson from Aged and Community Services Australia in Tasmania said the aged care sector needs nurses and more workers. Mr Matthewson said with the graduate nurse program strategy in its sixth year it has managed to attract more nurses to aged care due to the career opportunities. He said transition to practice positions offered registered and enrolled nurse graduates extra support tailored to working in aged care. Nurses come together for monthly professional development and have a mentor to help. ”We have 25 to 30 graduate nurses a year and a 90% retention rate,” he said. “About 20 to 30 often move into senior positions or leadership positions.”
