Darwin and Alice Springs, Northern Territory.

Frontier Services Training began as Central Training in 2004. It was funded by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing and was established to develop sustainable training initiatives for non-nursing staff of aged-care services. The funding ended in December 2005.

Its success led us to identify the resources (from the Commonwealth Conditional Adjustment Payments for aged care services and from our training budgets) not only to continue the program but to extend it to, and administer it from, the Top End.

Its current target is Frontier Services staff across the Northern Territory and into the Kimberley region of WA.

Its outcomes are immeasurable in recruitment and retention, and improved standards of care.

Initially established with one trainer, we now employ a Professional Development Manager NT, a Training Coordinator in both the Top End and Central Australia. There are two Clinical Tutors, one in the Top End and one in Central Australia funded by the Department of Health and Aging until June 2013 to work with students across our services. Future plans include a Clinical Supervisor and an additional Training Coordinator/Clinical Supervisor for the Kimberley based in Kununurra.

The Frontier Services Training Program won the Australian Government Department of Education Science and Training Minister’s Awards for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices 2007 – NT Winner (there was no national winner).