Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) Next Gen is appealing to younger age care workers to join it’s ambassador program this month.
“Next Gen Ambassadors are increasing industry positivity, bringing people together and raising awareness of age service careers,” Samantha Bowen, principal advisor at Next Gen, said.
“It’s about driving leadership in age services, inspiring younger people and exciting them to choose a career in aged care.
“We need to dispel industry myths, change perceptions and highlight aged care as a dynamic and life-changing career choice.”
Every two years, Next Gen appeals for new ambassadors.
Next Gen Ambassadors are young age service professionals and role models, clinical and non-clinical professionals, working across a variety of leadership roles.
They are passionate and seek to be actively involved in discussions affecting the future of the age services sector.
Ambassadors regularly attend meetings and support Next Gen and sector initiatives, provide advice and insights on issues affecting them and their peers, identify innovative projects and events to support young industry professionals, based on identified areas of strategic interest.
They also share their expertise and passion for aged services through industry presentations, articles, media interviews and more.
“Our younger age services workers and leaders energise their careers and influence our communities,” LASA general manager of policy and advocacy, Tim Hicks, said.
“We all know the significance of ensuring older people are supported to age well.
“Our existing ambassadors have excited and motivated so many people, people they care for and younger staff.
Next Gen is particularly keen to include ambassadors under the age of 40 who are in leadership roles within or supporting the age services industry.
“We need more ambassadors to meet the growing demands of our diverse sector,” Bowen said.
“The past 18 months has been about daring and courage and we need to ensure younger staff can be empowered through the many job choices in aged care and they can make changes.
“Ambassadors and young age services professionals will be front and centre of better ageing for older Australians.”
Former ambassadors are more than happy to endorse the program.
“In past years, I loved working as a Next Gen ambassador,” Nisha Maharajan, a clinical nurse at Bene Aged Care, said.
“I absolutely loved working for better change for the aged care industry.
“Aged care is my passion and this is where I find my happiness.
“I have grown more personally and professionally after I became a Next Gen ambassador.”
Aynsley Johnson, an aged care manager at Amergin concured.
“I have genuinely and thoroughly enjoyed the relationships I’ve made (and lifelong sector friendships), the contributions I’ve made and positive impact I’ve had even in unknown or unspoken ways just being part of LASA Next Gen,” she said.
If you’re considering being a Next Gen Ambassador, apply on the LASA website here.
You can also register for a Next Gen Fireside Chat which is scheduled for June 22, at 10am AEST, to discuss the ambassador role.
Applications for the program close at midnight on Sunday, June 27. Applicants will be notified of the outcome on Friday, July 30.
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