A joint venture between The Flagstaff Group and IRT Group, the 10-week CareerAbility in Aged Care course was launched on Thursday to coincide with the first day of training.

The course, being delivered by IRT College, will include placements in IRT care centres across the region to prepare participants for future roles.

Participants like Broadie Faraday, 22, who has worked for Flagstaff for five years, and felt like a career change.

‘’I’ve worked in packaging, production and waste recycling and have been able to achieve things I never thought possible,’’ he said.

‘’I’ve built my skills and confidence and I’ve met lots of new friends. Now I can’t wait to try something new.’’

Zoe Davis, 27, has worked for Flagstaff Fine Foods for two years, and is also looking forward to a change of pace.

‘’I’m looking forward to working in aged care – to meeting older people and hearing their stories, to helping them when they need it and doing activities with them,’’ she said.

Flagstaff CEO Roy Rogers said the joint initiative would benefit both the disability and aged care sectors.

‘’It will help meet the workforce demand in aged care, and will increase employment participation for people with disabilities, who have some of the lowest work participation rates in Australia,’’ Mr Rogers said.

‘’For many people with a disability, Australian Disability Enterprises like Flagstaff are safety zones or slow lanes on the career development highway. ...We help develop their trust, confidence and resilience to prepare them to move onto that highway.

‘’… Some of the cohort starting this program this week have been at Flagstaff for 15 years, some for under one year, but all are well prepared to be part of an exciting new career in aged care.’’

IRT Group chief executive Nieves Murray said local residential and home care providers would benefit through a more diversified workforce.

‘’The aged care sector is growing very rapidly and keeping pace with the needs of an ageing population is very important,’’ she said.

‘’There’s four times the number of aged care jobs than there are workers – so the job prospects sound pretty good to me.’’

Cunningham MP Sharon Bird welcomed the program.

‘’Giving Flagstaff employees this opportunity is a perfect match, as they have a proven work record and having a disability gives them a valuable perspective on life,’’ she said.

‘’They know what it’s like to achieve things with some difficulties, which is no different to people who are ageing. I think they will work really well together.’’

Mr Rogers said the provision of more work experiences for people with a disability led to improved health and well-being, social participation and reduced reliance on support.

It also enabled carers and family members to participate in the workforce.