People and Work GmbH has been supporting those interested on their way into the nursing or social profession since 2020
St. Pölten (OTS) – The population in Lower Austria is getting older and older. As a result of this demographic development, the need for care and support services for the growing age group is increasing. Since May 2020, Mensch und Arbeit GmbH (MAG) has been helping to close the resulting personnel gaps. And with great success: more than 1,000 people have already completed their training in the nursing and social sectors with the help of the coordination office. “This is a great Lower Austrian initiative to successfully counteract the shortage of skilled workers in the nursing sector,” says State Councilor Susanne Rosenkranz. Since the project began, almost 6,000 people have shown an interest in a nursing and social profession. The training courses in home help (561 graduates), nursing assistant (325) and nursing assistant (82) are particularly in demand. But training for senior service in health and nursing care is also in demand.
Regardless of training, the MAG coordination office is the central point of contact for all Lower Austrians looking for a career in nursing. “Here we advise, support and support interested parties from the first call through the entire training to the eventual employer,” explains MAG managing director Claire-Sophie Mörsen.
In addition to supporting interested parties, the core competencies of the coordination office also include coordination with numerous partner organizations. Because the funding landscape in the care and social sector is quite complex, it is important to find the right solution for every person interested in care. In addition to the Lower Austrian nursing training bonus from the state of Lower Austria, the AQUA funding (job-related qualification) from the AMS Lower Austria plays a special role: “AQUA in nursing training is a win-win situation for everyone involved: suitable job seekers are trained in a future-oriented area, that gives them joy. The AMS will ensure your livelihood during your training. The training costs are borne by the company, which in this way gets to know the future employees,” says Sandra Kern, regional manager of the AMS Lower Austria.
During the training, the coordination office also supports interested parties with advisory help in the event of conflicts in order to avoid dropouts. In this regard, close coordination is required with the various training institutes as well as with the future employers of the prospective nursing and social workers. An important partner in these two areas is the Lower Austrian State Health Agency. “The nursing profession is wonderful and unique at the same time. Over the course of your professional life, you have countless opportunities for further development and deepening of knowledge. The professional field is broad and diverse for the entire professional life. I can really only encourage anyone who is interested in working with people to choose this career,” says Susanne Gröschel, head of the strategy and quality care department at the Lower Austrian State Health Agency.
Interest in training in the nursing and social sector is still very high: there are currently more than 800 people in training programs through the MAG coordination office, almost half of them in training to become nursing assistants. One of them is Johann Baumgartner from the Melk district. He is currently in his second year of training at the St. Pölten School of Health and Nursing. He had been interested in a job in nursing for a long time: “Even in my previous jobs, for example as an emergency paramedic or as a prison guard, people were always the focus for me,” says Baumgartner. The 54-year-old is one of the older people in his class, but learning isn’t difficult for him: “Learning never stops, that’s what I’ve been doing my entire professional life.”
The fact that there are financial support options during training made it much easier for Baumgartner to take the late step back into school: “Many people use financial losses as an excuse not to start training when they get older. That doesn’t work anymore. I’m really glad that this opportunity exists,” says Baumgartner. The 54-year-old will complete his training in February next year.
MAG Mensch und Arbeit GmbH was created in 2020 through the merger of the associations “Youth and Work” and “0>Handicap” as a 100% subsidiary of the state of Lower Austria. Since then, it has been the labor market hub and the competence center for people who have questions about topics such as careers, work and further training in Lower Austria. The MAG is financed from funds from the state of Lower Austria, the Lower Austria Labor Market Service, the Ministry of Social Affairs Service and the European Social Fund (ESF). The coordination office for training in the nursing and social sector is financed by the state of Lower Austria in cooperation with the AMS Lower Austria and the state health agency.
Further information: Sophie Seeböck, BA, press spokeswoman for MAG People and Work, mobile: 0664/ 7800 3264, email [email protected]
Questions & Contact:
Office of the Lower Austrian State Government
State Office Directorate/Public Relations
Ing. Mag. John Seiter
02742/9005-12174
presse@noel.gv.at
www.noe.gv.at/presse
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