00:00A makeshift day spa keeps spirits high at this Central Coast nursing home.
00:07Oh, I'm good to her.
00:09Died and gone to heaven.
00:12From facials to foot massages.
00:15Now I know your weakness, Betty.
00:18It's all part of leisure activities led by a trio of teenage staff.
00:22I didn't expect to love it as much as I do now.
00:25Like, I couldn't ever imagine doing anything else.
00:28I feel like I've got a hundred grandparents or more.
00:31Everyone's just really open to us.
00:35Anything you fancy?
00:36There are almost half a million people working in aged care right now,
00:40but new care requirements coming out of the Royal Commission
00:43and introduced last year means more staff are needed.
00:47Forecasts are to almost double the workforce that we need by 2050.
00:51So an additional 400,000 people to come into the aged care sector.
00:55You know, we do need to think outside the box.
00:57Tapping into the younger generations, you know,
01:00it's an area that we ought to consider.
01:04Isn't she lovely?
01:06Staff at Uniting have welcomed the younger workers.
01:09Just look into it.
01:10They bring wisdom about technology.
01:13They bring fresh ideas.
01:16Teenagers make up a tiny proportion of the aged care workforce,
01:20but their impact here is making a real difference.
01:23When Kaylin does bingo, sometimes she calls the wrong numbers.
01:28And we all have a good laugh at that.
01:30Two, three, kick.
01:32It's lovely, you know, they give you cuddles.
01:35And company at a time of need.
01:38Yay!
01:39Great!
01:40We've done...
01:41Someone who doing done...
01:42You don't!
01:45Don't!
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