Lead teams with confidence: Clinical Skills & Telehealth Trainer Program for Aged Care Nurses

The number of older people on the North Coast continues to grow. Over 1 in 4 residents (26%) were aged 65 and over in 2021, well above the New South Wales average of 18%, and this group is projected to grow a further 28% by 2041. Many older people make their home in residential aged care, where health can change quickly and timely care makes a real difference. Recognising and responding early when a resident’s health is changing helps them stay well and receive the right care in place. Confident, skilled teams are central to this, and educators and clinical leaders play an important role in building these skills across their homes. This program supports that role by strengthening local training capability in telehealth, clear communication and clinical decision-making, so residents benefit from earlier, more coordinated care.

The program equips educators and clinical leaders to teach, coach and embed practical skills within their own homes, building training capability that is led and sustained locally. Delivered in partnership with the University Centre for Rural Health, it combines a full day workshop with optional one-on-one coaching and a facilitator guide and resource kit. Participants move from simulation to practice and learn how to adapt their teaching to support staff with a range of experience and confidence.

The program was developed in partnership between Healthy North Coast and the University Centre for Rural Health, drawing on the expertise of clinical educators and the realities of aged care practice. Its design reflects the needs of educators, clinical leaders and frontline staff, with teaching approaches shaped to support people at different stages of experience and confidence. Feedback from participants continues to inform how the program is delivered and refined.

Full day workshops delivered at locations across the North Coast

Optional one-on-one coaching available for participants

Facilitator guide and resource kit provided for participants to use in their own homes

Skills built in effective use of telehealth, including mobile cart systems

Skills built in structured communication and escalation within teams and with external providers, including after-hours

Skills built in clinical decision-making when a resident’s health is changing, including promoting use of the HNC Deteriorating Resident Triage Tool (DRTT)

Non-technical skills developed, including teamwork, managing complex situations and reflective debriefing, recognising these are essential to working safely and effectively in a virtual care environment

The program aims to build confident, capable aged care teams that can recognise and respond early when a resident’s health is changing. It supports greater confidence in using telehealth to access timely care, clearer communication within teams and with external providers, and lasting in-house training capability. Together, these outcomes help more residents receive safe, timely care in place.