“Why are personal care workers are leaving Australia’s aged care sector?”
This research project is a two-phase project comprising of three studies with each phase captured at a single point in time. Phase 1 (Exploration) includes two studies and Phase 2 (Design) has one study. Phase 1 comprises an integrated review of the literature (Study 1) and individual interviews with personal care workers (PCWs) working in residential aged care and PCWs who have left the aged care sector (Study 2). Phase 2 involves focus group interviews with PCWs currently working in residential aged care, PCWs who have left the aged care sector, residential aged care operators, and personnel from the wider aged care sector (Study 3).
The three-studies, although discrete, are interlinked as detailed above and illustrated in a diagram below.
- Study 1 (integrative review) informs Study 2 (individual interviews).
- Studies 1 and 2 inform Study 3 (focus group interviews).
The first stage of this research project, Study 1 (integrative review) has commenced and l am looking to recruit participants for Study 2 (individual interviews).
Expected Outcomes of the Research Project
This research project aims to gain an understanding, from the perspective of personal care workers’ working in residential aged care and those individuals previously employed as a personal care worker but have left the aged care sector, on the influences that have resulted in their intentions (intention to stay and intention to leave) and their behaviours (actual turnover). In identifying these influences, Reason’s Swiss Cheese Model will be adapted and used to understand the individual, organisational and economic factors associated with turnover (Figure 1) along with retention strategies to retain Australia’s personal care workforce (Figure 2). A model was selected for its ease in describing something in a simplified linear representation of reality offering a pictural representation depicting the relationship between variables.
The findings from this research will significantly advance the field of aged care research. Australia’s aged care sector needs greater investment in evidence-based research to address relevant and important issues. This research project will inform policy and practice decisions based on a reliable, valid, sound, and robust research design that aligns with the commitment of government, aged care operators, membership bodies and unions to collectively retain a stable, highly skilled personal care workforce.