The aged-care sector, particularly in rural and regional areas, is increasingly challenged by job turnover. Sundale, a large regional aged-care provider in south east Queensland are not immune to these challenges. Work stress is a major contributor to job turnover, but as the inherent demands of the job may be difficult to modify, efforts to reduce the effects of work stress may go a long way to improving retention. Recent research has shown how physiological measures of stress can assist with identifying stressed employees and how stress can be reduced by even just 10 minutes of guided breathing or immersion in nature. The CONVIRT virtual reality program will be used to assist in identifying stressed employees. This program uses embedded eye-tracking and provides a combination of guided breathing within a serene nature environment. The research aims to reduce stress among Sundale employees using a state-of-the art virtual reality technology that is easily administered in the workplace - potentially lowering rates of job turnover.
"This project funding from ARIIA is going to allow us to undertake important work using virtual reality to help identify and reduce stress and job turnover for aged care workers. The project brings together a fantastic team and its really exciting to be working with Associate Professor Brad Wright and team at La Trobe University and Sundale on these important challenges"
Professor Ben Horan, Deakin University