2007 Program Off to a Flying Start

The schedule for development and delivery of accredited qualifications for 2007 will be the busiest year yet for the Aboriginal Health College.

click here to view the Schedule

The 2007 schedule maps out the College’s commitment to Aboriginal Health Workers, to supervisors and managers, financial administrators, and elected Boards.

The College is on track with implementing its plan to increase the Scope of qualifications and skill sets it can deliver for Aboriginal Medical Services. By the end of 2007, the College will have 12 programs up and running.

click here to view Table of Qualifications and Skill Sets

The 2007 Program commenced in February and March with delivery of:

• Certificate IV in Frontline Management
• Certificate III in Alcohol and Other Drug Work
• Sexual Health Diploma

These programs followed on from:

• The successful November-December 2006 Eye Care Skills Set delivered jointly with the Institute for Eye Research for Regional Eye Care Coordinators working in Aboriginal Medical Services in NSW; and two Eye Care Workers from the Northern Territory.
• The successful Foundation Skills Course in Alcohol and Other Drug Work.  The Foundation Course was developed by the College and delivered to 50 practitioners, 49 of whom graduated.

Four more programs are being developed for delivery later in 2007 or at the beginning of 2008, according to Terry Smith, the Manager Education and Training at the College.  Terry was appointed at the beginning of December 2006.

The first new program will be a Cardiovascular Skills Set that builds on the National Heart Foundation’s training program.  The College has aligned the Heart Foundation’s course with the new national competency standards for Aboriginal Health Workers at Certificate III and IV.  AHWs will be given a Statement of Attainment that is jointly badged with the National Heart Foundation.

This Skills Set was developed with funds provided by Vision CRC.

The second new program is Diploma of Business (Management).  The Commonwealth Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH) funded the Aboriginal Health College to customise this qualification for managers and CEOs working in AMSs.  The College convened a Validation Panel to review the course materials on 7th and 8th May 2007, with roll-out delivery scheduled for the third quarter of 2007.

The third new program is a set of four Alcohol and Other Drugs Skills Sets as part of a joint development activity with the Western Australian Alcohol and Drug Office.  The Skills Sets will be combined with units of competency being developed by the West Australian Office to create a national Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs.

The College is already delivering the Certificate III in AOD under an arrangement with the WA Alcohol and Drug Office. The College’s contribution to the certificate IV is being funded by the NSW Board of Vocational Education and Training (BVET). The Certificate IV and related Skills Sets will be ready for delivery at the start of 2008.

The fourth new program is a Diploma of Dual Diagnosis, covering both mental health and AOD work.  The funds to develop this qualification have been provided by the Centre for Drug & Alcohol in the NSW Health Department.  A Reference Group of mental health workers, AOD Workers, psychologists and psychiatrists has been established.  The Reference Group met initially on 23rd May 2007.  This new qualification will be ready for delivery late in 2007.

79 graduates were awarded Diplomas and Statements of Attainment in four disciplines from health and vocational education at the Inaugural Graduation Ceremony of the AH&MRC Aboriginal Health College on Wednesday evening, 18th July 2007.

38 of these Graduates were able to attend the Ceremony personally to receive their testamurs.

Please click here for more information.