TAFE NSW – New England Institute

1. TAFE NSW – New England Institute E Skills for Enrolled Nurses ASO 26

2. Background New England Institute in conjunction with Hunter New England Area Health, NSW Health, University Department of Rural Health and local community identified the need to offer targeted and supported training to Aboriginal students to increase their employment opportunities within the local health sector.

3. Target Group A cohort of aboriginal of students that had successfully undertaken the following courses at Tamworth TAFE during 2011 • Certificate II in Health Support Services and • Certificate III in Health Services Assistance

4. Target Group (cont.) October 2011 - students from this group were offered the opportunity to undertake the Diploma in Nursing (Enrolled Nurse) with the possibility of obtaining NSW Health Cadetship.

5. The beginning From several meetings with Health and TAFE staff – 10 students were identified. The students, all from Tamworth, visited the Gunnedah delivery site and local hospital environments and a start date for 2012 was identified

6. WHY use Technology? • To familiarise students with a broad range of elearning resources • To increase students skills to access up to date health information and undertake research online • To assist students to meet the ANMAC national competency standard 6.1

7. How to: • Students undertake the majority of the theory component of their training via adobe connect sessions using a virtual classroom • Students undertake these sessions at Tamworth TAFE with a support teacher and the vocational Nursing teacher on line at a distance

8. Adobe Session

10. Additional E learning Resources TAFE NEI Lib Guide – access to Nursing library guide. DIIGO – theory assessment revision which stores varying e leaning sites for Health. TAFE teachers instructed students how to access within the classroom environment then students used individually.

15. Barriers and Solutions to Success

16. Advantages to Students • Students gain familiarity with computers, access the internet and adobe connect learning in a supportive and non- threatening environment • Learning is done within a group environment • Students can learn at their own pace and can repeat lessons in their own time • Students utilise other e learning mediums to facilitate their training.

17. Successful Outcomes • Students accessing Adobe taped sessions using iPhones, home computer and TAFE library. Learning not restricted to the TAFE classroom. • All students successfully achieved competence in all theory assessments to date

18. Successful Outcomes • Students using technology whilst on clinical placement within the health environment • Students logging onto TAFE facebook whilst on Clinical Placement

19. Promotion Local interest included: Television and newspaper media reviews NBN News Item Reporting on E learning

20. NEI Web Page ATSI Enrolled Nurse Link added to the TAFE NSW – New England Institute face book page and the students are accessing whilst on clinical work placement.

21. Where to from here? Due to the success of the supportive environment, TAFE and both partners NSW Health and HNEAH are committed to continuing to assist the students through • Mentoring in the workplace – clinical work placement • A support teacher in the TAFE classroom environment to continue

22. Where to from here? • E portfolio pilot within NEI • Accessing adobe sessions during clinical placement – this maintains contact with the students, reduces incidence of isolation and provides a support mechanism for all learners whilst maintaining their individual e learning skills.

23. Where to from here? • Students successfully: • Gaining the Diploma in Nursing • Registered • Employed within Hunter New England Area Health

24. Thank you