Embedding Online Cultural Awareness Training Across Metro & Rural Health Services in WA to Improve Service Delivery to Aboriginal Clients.

Ref No: WA11BP03Registered Training Organisation: Metropolitan Health Services

Who are we?

This e-learning project has been developed through a collaboration of Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff working across:

• Western Australia Country Health Service (WACHS)

• North Metropolitan Area Health Service (NMAHS)

What are we doing?‘The Project’

• Build one e-learning module within a larger framework– Module 1 introduction for all staff in health – Module 2 advanced knowledge for everyone – Module 3 additional knowledge for clinical staff – Module 4 additional knowledge for admin/clerical staff

• Design content based on existing learning material

• Engage Aboriginal staff– for regionally appropriate cultural guidelines– for their own professional development

Why are we doing this ?We know…• Many causes of Aboriginal ill-health and death are

preventable• Aboriginal life expectancy is 19-20 years below that of

other Australians

But…• Aboriginal patients less likely to seek treatment early• Less able to follow medication/rehab regimes

Resulting in…• Poor health outcomes• Increased re-admission

What are we aiming for?

• Enhanced health worker behaviours to improve patient outcomes

• Improved workplace cultural security to retain Aboriginal employees

• Increased access to cultural awareness training via online e-learning material

• Increased educator confidence in the use of blended learning to support e-learners.

What have we done?• Engaged Aboriginal employees as education designers

– Conducted focus groups with Aboriginal staff working in NMAHS and regional centres across WACHS to identify Top 20 essential topics for inclusion

• Reviewed existing publications and research addressing Aboriginal culture and health

• Designed and developed e-learning package– Addressed the national unit of competence HLTAHW201A

‘Work with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients’– Material created using Metamorphosis software– Additional interactive activities generated using Raptivity

and Marvin software.

Where are we at?• Currently at testing stage (March)

– Regional Learning and Development Coordinators will be running sessions in the first weeks of March 2011 to evaluate the e-learning package

– Blended learning will be used to test package – Feedback to be incorporated into package

• Future (April)

– The package will be updated and then released for wider review (via the WACHS/NMAHS intranet) in the first week of April.

Have we had any issues?

• Timeframes – very tight especially for multiple community collaborations across WA

• Technology – difficult to select what will work and what is most appropriate for target group e.g. access to audio at workstation

• Scope of project – embedding technology not just creating cultural awareness e-learning package

What lessons have we learnt?

• Effective communication – importance of regular communication between project team members

• Technology – use of new software

• Inter-agency networking – stakeholder identification and management

• Human resource allocation – accurately calculating ‘man hours’ needed for tasks

• Personal growth – project management skills, increased cultural competence etc.