Post on 17-Nov-2014
description
Implementing an eMentoring program for aged and community
care staff in rural and remote Queensland
Sarah Stewart 2010
Creative Commons BY
http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.com
Acknowledgements
• Dept. Health and Aging, Australia who provided project funding
• All the people who volunteered to be mentors and mentees
• Aged Care Queensland Inc project team: Anne Livingstone, Anna Lennon, Tania Whyatt and Robin Apps
• eMentoring project Reference Committee
What were the issues that needed to be addressed?
Difficult to recruit and retain staff in aged and community care
sector in Queenslandhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/34701044@N06/4000009470
Rural and remote staff miss out on support and professional development
because of geographical isolation
Indigenous staff require support and professional development
that meets their particular needs
Professional development and support for workers is vital for provision of high quality care
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23368139@N02/4182053334
critical to the sustainability of aged care industry by attracting and
retaining younger people http://www.flickr.com/photos/41894180985@N01/2478337872
a way to improve staff skill mix and not just staff numbers
eMentoring seen by ACQI to be one way of meeting development
needs of workforce
Program development Jan – May 2009
• Development of resources including handbook
• Advertising & recruiting mentors & mentees
• Selection and matching mentees with mentors
• Assessment of computer skills and equipment
Development of eMentoring CD Rom with Creative Commons BY license
Program implementationMay - June 2009
• Face-to-face mentoring and computer skills workshops
• Supporting mentors and mentees in making contact, developing learning plans and developing mentoring relationships
• Helping out with technology issues
• Evaluation questionnaire
Participants
EOI Entered Program
Mentees 63 23
Mentors 34 20
Why people didn’t participate• Too busy with audit and accreditation• Attitudes of employers/managers • Too busy with other study• Unable to attend face-to-face eMentoring workshops • Too busy with mentoring student nurses• Time frame was too short or did not suit their needs• No financial support for time off work • Lacking computer skills and confidence• Concerns about cost to the organization• Prefers face-to-face mentoring
Why indigenous people didn’t participate
• Prefer to work in a face-to-face context, to build a rapport and feelings of trust• Concerns about eMentoring relationship arising from such factors as gender, culture, position or
time• Concerns about privacy and confidentiality in small, close-knit communities • Potential fear of ‘failing’ or ‘shame’ by participant • Lack of access to the Internet bandwidth, especially in remote areas eg. Thursday Island• Lack of computer skills• Variability of literacy skills
Barriers to participation once enrolled in program
• Difficulties with technology eg organisational firewalls
• Lack of time
• Program too short
• Mentor or mentee did not get in touch
Successes of the program
• Provided support when none was available
• Increased computer skills and confidence
• Introduced people to free, cost-cutting communication tools
• Introduced people to concepts and benefits of online networking
eMentoring handbook re-mashed by Terrance DeShaun for youth eMentoring program in New Orleans
http://terrancedeshaun.blogspot.com
Recommendations for future programs
• Longer program – minimum 6 months• ‘Train the trainer’ approach to computer
skills• Explore benefits/disadvantages of online
communities of practice• Strategies for embedding technology in the
workplace• Engage with wider community to share skills
and resources
sarahstewart07@gmail.com
http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.com
Twitter: SarahStewart