Save the date information in this NACCHO communique

1.Professsional development training date-22 August 2012

2.National Aboriginal Ear and Hearing Health Skill Set-Certificate course-(various dates)

3.National Evaluation Review Workshop-28/29 August 2012

1.Professsional development training date

The next Professional Development Training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers will be held  in the NT at Alice Springs on 22nd August 2012.  The host centre will be the Central Australian Remote Health Development Services (CARHDS).  

 For further information please contact the Ear Health Team at NACCHO on Phone: (02) 6246 9300

2.National Aboriginal Ear and Hearing Health Skill Set-Certificate course

Delivery of the certificate course of the National Skill Set are scheduled on the following dates.  For all inquiries to enrol please contact the following RTO members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Regional Training Organisation Network (ATSIHRTONN).

6-17th AUGUST 2012:  Aboriginal Health College Sydney, NSW

Ph: 02 9019 0730

 10-21st SEPTEMBER 2012:  ACHSA Adelaide SA

Ph: 08 8273 7200

 8-19th OCTOBER 2012:  KAMSC in Kununarra, WA

Ph: 08 9194 3200

 22nd OCTOBER – 2nd NOVEMBER 2012:

Central Australian Remote Health Development Services (CARHDS)

Alice Springs, Ph: 08 89 535 500

For further information please contact the Ear Health Team at NACCHO on Phone: (02) 6246 9300

 NACCHO’s  Aboriginal Health Worker Ear and Hearing Health Care Training Manual 2010 is now available on NACCHO’s website for downloading.

3.National Evaluation Review Workshop

Delivery of the National Aboriginal Ear and Hearing Health Skill Set has been delivered at five (5) RTOs in four states of WA, QLD, SA and NSW.  Approximately 55 AHWs have undertaken the certificate course qualification.

 As the delivery schedules are implemented, an evaluation process takes place of specific sites, taking into consideration the location, of remote, regional or metropolitan.

 The National Evaluation Review workshop will update key stakeholders of the outcomes of delivered trainings and any other relevant training information.

 Amongst the key stakeholders to be invited will be NACCHO’s affiliates, members of the ATSIHRTONN and members of the Project Advisory Group.

 Location and venue will be confirmed at a later date.

 For further information please contact Tricia at NACCHO on Phone: (02) 6246 9322

PLEASE ENROL WITHIN 24 HOURS TO CLAIM TRAINING SUBSIDY

SO YOU DO NOT MISS OUT

Application close 1.00 pm Thursday 1 May

There are 170 training places for existing ear health workers and 16  Training and Assessment (TAE) places for potential and existing trainers.

Training of staff is now available to the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. 

A newsletter with links to Survey Monkey application was distributed to all ACCHS last week to gather numbers  for training in various qualifications.

Employers must provide their interest and commitment within 24 hours to claim a government subsidy. 

This special flyer is to encourage existing ear health programs within ACCHS to consider early enrolment of their ear health workers.  

The training will still be delivered through ATSIHRTONN members as is currently being rolled out through NACCHO.

ACCHS whose AHWs who have previously completed the National Aboriginal Ear & Hearing Health Skill set to date are eligible to apply for this  special funding, including those who completed the Skill Set in the pilot stage in Brisbane, Kalgoorlie and Sydney. 

 All ACCHS that are intending to have their AHWs trained in ear health during the NACCHO’s national roll out up to June 2013 are  eligible to apply for this special funding.

Training and Assessment (TAE) places are available to current AHWs trainers, AHW who hold an ear health training role within ACCHS or an out of date training qualifications and would like to upgrade. ACCHS are eligible for this special funding.

 ENROL HERE NOW WITHIN 24 HOURS TO CLAIM TRAINING SUBSIDY!!!!

If you need help please contact

Tricia Elarde

National Coordinator

Ear and Hearing Health

NACCHO Secretariat

02 6246 9322 – Canberra

tricia@naccho.org.au

NACCHO’s Ear and Hearing Health Workforce Project for AHW

Professional Development Equipment Training

Save the Date 26 July 2012 Victoria

NACCHO is about to commence Ear and Hearing  Equipment Training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Health Workers (AHW)  in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) and Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) in Victoria on 26th July 2012 at Victoria Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO).

 ACCHS, AMS and Primary Health Care Services are eligible to register for professional development training

 The aim of professional development is to encourage AHW’s within Victoria jurisdiction to further their skills and also  give have an opportunity to participate in NACCHO Aboriginal Ear and Hearing Health National Skill Set currently being rolled out across Australia

 Register your interest to the NACCHO’s Ear Health Team Amanda@naccho.org.au or Teletha@naccho.org.au

For further information contact the Ear and Hearing team : 02 6246 9300

 Further information and registration forms will be posted on the NACCHO website in June: www.naccho.org.au

The Australian Otitis Media Conference

The Australian Otitis Media Conference was recently held in Fremantle 2-4^th May 2012.  A total of 157 from the research field, ear health specialists and health professionals from the primary health care sector shared knowledge around otitis media, a middle ear disease which has a high prevalence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly young children.  NACCHO sponsored 60 health professionals from the primary health care services, with a total of about 72% coming from NACCHO member services.  About 100 attended the Social Function and were entertained by Aboriginal comedian, Kevin Kropinyeri, who had the audience in stitches with his performance.

A report is currently being prepared and will be available on the NACCHO website in due course. 

 NACCHO’s Workforce Project Update:  Implementation of Phase 3 & Phase 4

Training Program

The national roll out of the National Aboriginal Ear and Hearing Health Skill Set continues with 5 RTOs delivering their first block of training.  RTOs delivering to date are:

• AHWCA  – WA  February-March  2012
• Booroogen Djugun College  NSW February- March 2012
• KAMSC Broome, WA  April 2012
• QATSIHWEPAC  Cairns, Qld April 2012
• Aboriginal Health College – NSW May 2012

In June, AHCSA in Adelaide will deliver their first block of training and QATSIHWEPAC will deliver their second block on Thursday Island.   Other interested RTOs to date are VACCHO in Victoria, CARDHS in Alice Springs NT and Indigenous Wellbeing Centre in Bundaberg Qld.

Professional Development (Equipment) Training:

Three state PD trainings have been conducted in WA, QLD and SA.  Two are planned as a promotion to undertake the National Skill Set at VACCHO on 26 July 2012 and CARDHS Alice Springs on 22^nd August.  The new program features where possible, a local health service to share their ear health program with other AHWs; a guest speaker such as a specialist is invited to share their experience on identification of ear health conditions and it’s appropriate referrals or treatment.  Also where possible, a previous ear health participant is invited to become a “trainee trainer” for the day and to work alongside of NACCHO’s trainers. The purpose is to strengthen capacity of existing AHWs to add value to their current ear health role and to encourage them to undertake the National Skill Set qualification. 

Evaluation

The aim of Phase 3 and 4 is to establish a sustainable model for the ongoing national delivery of the accredited ear and hearing health training skill set for the AHW workforce that is supported by evaluation evidence.  3 RTO sites have been visited by an evaluator and NACCHO is assisting the evaluators, Beyond, through the evaluation phase.  Progress of the evaluation will be discussed at a proposed national Evaluation Workshop tentatively planned for August 2012.

 Support and Mentoring Model

NACCHO held the first Project Advisory Group and the first National Trainers Workshop in March 2012 in Adelaide.  RTOs, targeted ACCHS and senior health workers participated in preliminary discussions and development of a support and mentoring model.  It also looked at possible career pathways which will be explored further in the future.  This is one of the Capacity Strengthening Strategies to support ear health workers during and beyond the national roll out.

Resources

NACCHO has a number of ear health resources.  An Ear Health Kit that contains an Ear Health Training Manual was developed in Phase 2 of the project.  A DVD of the launch and training of AHWs has been developed and has only been recently delivered to ACCHS and Community Health Services and RTOs.  A new resource currently near completion will be distributed by June 2012. 

Queries on Previous Ear Health Reports and Resources can be obtained by contacting the Ear Health Team in the NACCHO Secretariat details above

 SAVE THE DATE FLYER FOR PD TRAINING IN VACCHO 26 July 2012 

Implementation of training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers began in December 2012 in Perth with the first state professional development equipment training  (PD Training) being hosted by local NACCHO member, Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service.

 A total of 22 health workers from WA attended this training with a special guest presentation by Dr Harvey Coates. 

 In February 2012, AHCWA hosted the first delivery of the National Aboriginal Ear and Hearing Health Skill.

 Since then, Booroongen Djugun College and QATSIWEPAC and KAMSC have delivered the Health Skill Set. 

 To date, a total of about 45 AHWs have received training in the National Skill Set.  QATSIHWEPAC in Cairns hosted the second PD training where 23 participants received hands-on training on the ear health equipment by trainers.

 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health workers from the ACCHS and Community Health Services around Australia are eligible to assess the National Skill Set.  Inquiries can be made with participating members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Regional Training Organisations (ATSIHRTONN) that are located in each state and territory. 

 During the implementation phase, NACCHO will work with the Project Advisory Group members to develop a support and mentoring model in the aim of continuing development of AHWs in ear and hearing health programs. 

 The first PAG meeting was held in Adelaide in March 2012 followed by a National Trainers Workshop that provided further information of the types of support and mentoring needs as well as looking at training pathways for AHWs.

 RTOs will be delivering training from May to November 2012 and two PD trainings to be held between this time.

 A full report on the Australian Otitis Media Conference in Perth 2-4 May will appear on the next communique.

 For further infomation contact

Professional Development Training:

 Two Professional Development Equipment training dates are confirmed to be held in Queensland and South Australia in February and April.

 Refer NACCHO website for further info:

 Ear and Hearing Skill Set training: Six Registered Training Organisations members of ATSHIRTONN have confirmed their training dates for the delivery of the National Aboriginal Ear and Hearing Health Skill Set. 

Competencies:  The set that make up the National Skill Set are:

HLTAHW418A: Provide information and strategies in hearing and ear health

HLTAU402B: Conduct screening hearing tests for industrial hearing loss

HLTAU501C: Conduct screening hearing tests for children

 Trainers appointed: Gwen Troutman-Weir and Sandi Nelson have been contracted by NACCHO to provide training at the sites now able to deliver the National Aboriginal Ear and Hearing Health Skill Set.

 The Project Advisory Group has been established and will have its first face to face meeting in March 2012. 

 A National Trainers Workshop currently is being planned for March 2012.

 Ear and Hearing Conference: NACCHO is currently planning an Ear Health Conference to be held in May. Further information available soon.