APNA Aged Care Improvement Collaborative

Over the past five years, more than a quarter of all accepted WorkCover mental injury claims in Victoria have come from health and social assistance workers.  This includes 362 mental injury claims from workers in the residential aged care sector alone - and something needs to change. That’s where we come in. The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA), with support from WorkSafe Victoria, is leading a consortium of aged care partners to launch a brand‑new Community of Practice. We want to help aged care workplaces become safer, healthier and more supportive places to work.

Introducing the Aged Care Improvement Collaborative

The Aged Care Improvement Collaborative (ACIC) is a Community of Practice that takes a collaborative, partnership‑focused approach to helping workplace leaders create psychologically healthy and safe aged care workplaces.

• Who can join: We are bringing together both clinical and non-clinical leaders from residential aged care homes across Victoria.
• What will you do: Participate in peer-to-peer workshops and tailored coaching sessions to build your capacity to embed Psychosocial Safety Climate learnings in your workplace. 
• Project dates: April 2026 - March 2027

Whether you're looking to strengthen workplace culture, exploring ways to better support staff wellbeing, or aiming to build safer, more psychologically healthy practices within your residential aged care home – this program is for you. Project tools and outcomes are being promoted across the aged care industry to influence policies and standards, driving broad-reaching and sustainable change in the sector.

Key Benefits 

• Improve psychological health and wellbeing of staff
• Staff connect with other aged care home providers and learn across the sector – creating a network of support
• Staff learn and gain confidence in using quality improvement collaborative methodology
• Leaders increase capability to identify psychosocial hazards and psychosocial safety climate gaps
• Shared understanding of psychosocial risks as an organisation
• Improve workplace culture and reduce mental injury claims.
• Access expert coaching and peer learning opportunities.
• Reduce costs related to psychological risks and increase productivity.

Understanding Psychosocial Safety Climate

Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) refers to the extent to which an organisation prioritises and values employee psychological health. In high‑PSC workplaces, management prioritises psychological well-being alongside productivity and operational demands. The great thing about PSC is that it’s a lead indicator. Instead of waiting for problems like burnout or injuries to show up, PSC helps organisations spot risks early and take action before harm occurs.

Quality Improvement Collaborative (QIC) Methodology

ACIC applies the QIC methodology to build aged care workplace leaders' knowledge to deliver sustainable improvements in the identification and management of psychological injury. The QIC methodology is based on the Model for Improvement, which uses clear goals, measurement, and iterative Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycles to test and implement changes. The Breakthrough Series helps close the gap between evidence and practice, enabling organisations to achieve significant improvements in care quality, cost, and outcomes through structured collaboration and continuous learning.

Contact Us

For further information about the Aged Care Improvement Collaborative project, please email the project team.