Practical hands-on training for health care students in partnership with Bendigo Health

The Bendigo TAFE Clinical Training Centre has been established in a partnership between Bendigo Health and Bendigo TAFE Community Services and Health Departments, and provides a unique opportunity for health care training in the City of Greater Bendigo, regional and Central Victoria.  The partnership between Bendigo Health and Bendigo TAFE provides opportunities for students undertaking the Diploma of Nursing, Certificate IV Allied Health Assistance, Certificate III Health Services Assistance and Certificate III Aged Care Services  to complete part of their clinical training in a purpose built clinical skills centre.

Located close to the Bendigo hospital, the four-bed centre has been developed in partnership with Bendigo Health. It provides health students the opportunity to learn the practical skills they will need when caring for patients in a hospital and community setting. Students also undertake practical placements with Bendigo Health as part of their training. Integrating work and learning in this way ensures competent health care staff and best practice in patient care.

Keeping skills current at the City of Greater Bendigo​

The City of Greater Bendigo provides a range of aged and disability, and recreation services. The council wanted to recognise the existing skills of its workforce and upgrade staff skills to meet national standards.

Bendigo TAFE identified the appropriate national qualifications:

• CHC30202  Certificate III in Home and Community Care (HACC)
• CHC30102  Certificate III in Aged Care
• CHC40202  Certificate IV in Service Coordination (Ageing and Disability)
• CHC41602  Certificate IV in Lifestyle and Leisure

We assessed council staff against the qualification appropriate for their job and then provided relevant training to bridge any gaps.

During the project, we realised that the council was delivering services to an increasing number of people with some form of disability. It was apparent that specific disability units of competence should be incorporated in future health qualifications. Bendigo TAFE is now negotiating with the Health and Community Services Industry Skills Council to ensure that the need is addressed.

At the end of the program staff had had their existing skills formally recognised and gained a nationally recognised qualification, and the council had a fully qualified staff to deliver services. Two of the students went on to become finalists in the Bendigo TAFE Student of the Year awards, with one of them taking out the award for Trainee of the Year (2008). 

How the Rapid Recognition Program is helping Community Services - Workforce Development

Many people in the community services sector in Bendigo have been working in managerial roles for years but have no formal recognition of their skills and experience. The Rapid Recognition program gave them an opportunity to have their current competencies recognised in:

• the Diploma or Advanced Diploma of Disability Work, or
• the Diploma of Community Services Co-ordination, or
• the Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management.

Bendigo TAFE developed a three-part assessment process.

1. Each participant received a Competency Record Book. Each person undertaking the program completed a Competency Record Book. Workplace supervisor signed off units of competency in which the participant could demonstrate current competency.

2. Each participant collected a portfolio of work documents as supporting evidence of their competency.

3. Finally, each participant underwent an assessment interview during which they were asked a series of questions relating to the specific unit of competency.

Many people have, and continue to work through the Rapid Recognition program and receive a nationally accredited qualification, formally recognising their skills and experience.   Here is what the Regional Learning and Development Co-ordinator has said about the program, along with an article which appeared in "The Weekend Australian" on 26/27 February 2011.

There are a number of other Rapid Recognition Programs including Certificate III in Children’s Services, Diploma of Children’s Services and Diploma of Management. 

Increasing delivery capability at Homelessness Assistance and Community Housing (HACH) - DHS Project​

The Department of Human Services funds the Homelessness Assistance and Community Housing (HACH) program which provides support services for homeless.  The program is delivered using 500+ agencies across Victoria.  With so many agencies it was difficult to ensure consistency of service delivery across the programs.

Bendigo TAFE worked with both DHS and a number of lead agencies to develop a training program that provides relevant, contemporary and practical skills that increase the service delivery capability of the extensive HACH workforce.   Workshops are identified by both Bendigo TAFE and DHS using a training gap analysis.  Bendigo TAFE co-ordinates the training calendar and liaises with  DHS and other key industry stakeholders on the various methods of delivery and evaluation of the training.

Bendigo TAFE first delivered this program in 1999 and has successfully won subsequent business.  Following a competitive tendering process in late 2008 we continued co-ordinating the program into 2010.