Who are we?

1. Embedding Online Cultural Awareness Training Across Metro & Rural Health Services in WA to Improve Service Delivery to Aboriginal Clients. • Ref No: WA11BP03 • Registered Training Organisation: Metropolitan Health Services

2. 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)

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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.