Brooke Lord, Head of Advocacy and Policy, for the RCSA

Brooke is the Head of Advocacy at RCSA, the peak industry body for the recruitment and staffing sector in Australia and New Zealand.  RCSA represents over 2000 corporate and individual members which include a large number of specialist aged care recruitment and staffing agencies.   An experienced Public Affairs leader, Brooke has worked in Corporate and Public Affairs across a range of organisations and industries, including Aged Care provision and Aged Care staffing .  In 2020, Brooke worked with RCSA members and the Commonwealth Government to establish a surge workforce program that leveraged RCSA’s member network to assist in meeting surge workforce demand across Australia’s aged care sector during the pandemic.   RCSA’s surge workforce program has filled more than 52,000 shifts in aged care facilities across Australia, providing critical care – and saving lives – for residents at short notice and at a vital juncture.   Brooke is a strong advocate for the vital role that non-traditional and flexible labour plays within the aged care sector in addressing unexpected and short-term staffing needs, in meeting surge requirements and in providing specialist skills or services.