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Interim Evaluation of the Northern Territory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Aged Care Workforce Development Projects - Final Report

9: Evaluation Element 6: Information Produced Through the Projects

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9.1 Overview and Summary

In implementing the Workforce Development Projects DoHA produced a range of information to inform stakeholders of the scope of the Projects, to support the projects and to review progress. The evaluation of this element involved the review of key information developed up to March 2010.

Summary of findings

The following information was produced by DoHA in implementing the Workforce Development Projects:
  • The project resources, which are discussed in Section 5: Element 2: Northern Territory Resources Project
  • The Rationale document
  • Report on the NT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Aged Care Workforce Development Workshop Darwin 2009
  • Report on the RTO Workshop in Darwin 2010
  • NT Aged Care Service Coordinators Questionnaire
  • Aged Care Coordinator and shire representative workshops
  • NT Aged Care Training Fact Sheets.
The materials clarify the framework of the Projects, provide a record of consultations and processes associated with the Projects and have contributed to a greater understanding of the interconnection between Projects and stakeholders.

From this information, ongoing improvements have been identified and implemented and have included a focus on developing service coordinators and further informing shire representatives of requirements and the Projects’ objectives.

9.2 Data And Discussion

9.2.1 Rationale document95

The Department of Health and Ageing Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Workforce Section (Quality Policy & Programs Branch; Office for Aged Care Quality & Compliance) developed a rationale document to outline the policy context and rationale for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Aged Care Workforce Development Initiative (now known as Projects) implemented in the NT. The paper is included as Attachment 1 in the Attachments to the Final Report.

The paper describes the background to the projects including the impact of the CDEP program, the NTER and welfare reform measure and the NT shire reform. In addition, the consultation and research strategies employed to determine the scope of the Projects is described and demonstrates that government funding bodies, community aged care service providers, advocacy and development agencies and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HACC Reference Group were consulted.

Consideration was given to recognising that the development of the community care workforce necessitates culturally appropriate training and resources, training within communities by local trainers and an overarching evaluation to assist in improving the projects and informing future workforce development projects.

The rationale document outlines the purpose of the Projects and the importance of the evaluation in determining the impact of the Projects.

9.2.2 NT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community aged care workforce development workshop Darwin | February 2009

DoHA conducted a workshop aimed at sharing information, discussing issues and developing tools for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community aged care workforce development in the NT. In addition, the forum promoted networking and relationship building between the Workforce Development Projects stakeholders; over 50 representatives attended. A report that documents the workshop was developed by DoHA96 (distributed to all key stakeholders including all services participating in the training, shire managers, NTDHF, DEEWR and FaHCSIA) and outlines:
  • The workshop
  • Implementation steps
  • Project overview
  • Forum discussions and presentations, and
  • Participants.
In this paper the type of training proposed for the NT Training Project was described as:
  • Skills based training, focused on the training people need to do their jobs well. This training will also be accredited, so people can build towards Certificate level qualifications if they wish (ranging from Certificate I level through to Certificate IV level).
  • Whole of community, on-community training. The priority group for training are workers who were formerly employed through CDEP, and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers in HACC and Flexi services. Community members will also be invited to join training where appropriate, and service coordinators will be encouraged to be closely involved in training, and
  • Individual tailoring. Training will be different for different communities and services, and will be tailored to the existing skills of individual workers97.
The evaluation has identified that training for participants to achieve Certificate I to Certificate IV qualifications that is individualised and tailored to service-types and skills of workers has not been achieved as the vast majority of workers are provided with Certificate III training. The evaluation has confirmed and recommends that this is the most appropriate approach to training this diverse workforce. The evaluation also found that involvement of non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander coordinators was not consistent. This could be due to the incorrect perception by some RTOs that they were unable to provide non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander coordinators with a certificate for the training they completed.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learning modules currently being developed (5.6 Further Resource Development) should enhance the ability of RTOs to tailor the training to meet the needs of the learners, whilst generally working towards the attainment of a Certificate III qualification. As this qualification is accepted as the appropriate level of training for the provision of community aged care work across Australia, it is appropriate that it is also the main framework of the training project. It is acknowledged, however, that achieving a Certificate III outcome may take longer than expected due to the remoteness of communities (access) and the language and literacy issues identified through the workforce profile and skills audits. Where appropriate, lower level certificate courses should also be provided.
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9.2.3 NT aged care service coordinators questionnaire

DoHA conducted a telephone questionnaire with 45% of NT Aged Care Service Coordinators between January 19 and March 10 2010 to gain feedback on the NT Aged Care Workforce Development Program, to identify strategies to support community aged care service coordinators and to inform the content of the proposed coordinator mentor workshops. The resulting report highlighted the following98:
  • Coordinators would welcome an orientation pack for new staff to provide general community background information, cultural information, communication strategies for working effectively in communities and information on the role of the coordinator
  • Coordinators were supportive of coordinator workshops to up-skill them in their role, and
  • Coordinator retention issues may be alleviated through greater coordinator support and information.
Whilst the interim evaluation did not specifically focus on coordinator issues, the consultations with coordinators conducted as part of this questionnaire has identified that support of coordinators is critical to the ongoing sustainability of the aged care workforce and services, particularly in remote areas.

The results of the coordinator questionnaire informed the seven workshops that DoHA held in Darwin, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek for coordinators and their second-in-charge staff. These are further described in 9.2.5 Coordinator and shire representatives’ workshops.

9.2.4 Report on the RTO workshop in Darwin 2010

DoHA developed a report99 summarising the two day workshop for RTOs engaged to deliver training to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers in the NT. The aim of the workshop was to re-emphasise the role and responsibilities of the RTOs, promote the provision of consistent information to RTOs and aged care service coordinators about mentoring processes and encourage communication between stakeholders. RTOs provided feedback on this workshop as part of the evaluation. This is included in 7.2.3 Workshops.

9.2.5 Coordinator and shire representatives’ workshops

DoHA identified that coordinators and shire representatives contribute to the success of the Workforce Development Projects through their roles in supporting staff and promoting improved service delivery. Seven workshops were held with over 100 coordinators and their second-in-charge staff in May and June 2010 in Darwin (4), Alice Springs (2) and Tennant Creek (1).. The aims of the workshops were to:
  • Develop an understanding of quality aged care service delivery, programs, policy and reporting
  • Assist coordinators to be effective team leaders and role models for their staff
  • Build the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aged care workforce, and
  • Support aged care training being delivered under through the NT Training Project.
DoHA advised100 that the discussions at the workshops have informed the development of the communication strategy and Memorandums of Understanding with RTOs.

These workshops were not evaluated in the interim evaluation due to their timing.

DoHA also convened a workshop in Darwin in May 2010 with representatives from all of the Shires. The majority of the attendees were the Shire aged care coordinators or the community services coordinators who have aged care in the portfolio area. This workshop was designed to discuss a broad range of aged care issues with the Shire representatives.

Changes to the employment funding agreements including the new requirements in the employment retention reports were presented. DoHA also provided an update on the NT Training Project and took the opportunity to consult with the Shire aged care managers about the lessons learnt in the first year of implementation. While this workshop was not included in the evaluation due to the timing, DoHA has advised that the major change to be implemented as a result of this consultation includes the development and distribution of the MOU between the RTO and the Shire/Independent aged care services. This was an initial suggestion made by the RTOs at their February 2010 meeting.
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95. Department of Health and Ageing 2009 op cit p6
96. Department of Health and Ageing 2009 NT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Aged Care Workforce Development Workshop Darwin
97. ibid p3
98. Department of Health and Ageing NT Office 2010 Results of Questionnaire NT Aged Care Service Coordinators Alice Springs
99. Department of Health and Ageing 2010 NT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care RTO Workshop Summary
100. Email 4th May 2010 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Workforce Section (Quality Policy & Programs Branch Office for Aged Care Quality & Compliance)

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