Strangers in a Strange Land: Cultural Competence in
Dementia Care

It is estimated that around 185,000 Australians have dementia and this estimate can be expected to grow as our population ages over the coming years. Although dementia is not a natural part of the ageing process, the likelihood of being diagnosed with dementia doubles every five years beyond the age of 65. The Australian Government has therefore placed a high priority on meeting the needs of people with dementia and those who care for them.

Strangers in a Strange Land caters for those working in the dementia field with people from culturally diverse backgrounds. The resource particularly targets older workers and those who seek support in their learning. Strangers in a Strange Land invites learners to work through scenarios that capture issues at the heart of cross cultural care. Topics are extended with the Resource Sheets and Facilitator’s Guide for more in-depth exploration. This resource has been mapped against specific competency units in the CHC 3O102 Certificate III in Aged Care Work and CHC 30202 Certificate III in Home and Community Care and may therefore assist carers seeking a nationally endorsed qualification.

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Working from Strengths: Venturing towards strength-based adult education

As a product of a NCVER (National Centre for Vocational Education Research) funded project, WLI has developed a resource that explores the application of Strength Based Practice to adult basic education: Working from Strength: Venturing towards strength based adult education.

Strength Based Practice is an approach borrowed from the welfare sector for the support and recovery of welfare clients. This approach turns the tables on the traditions which say that people who are ‘failing’ need to be guided by a specialist to regain the path of the straight and narrow. Strength Based Practice supports individuals to find their own path in life and to utilize all the resources available to build their strengths. The focus is on self understanding and self management.

Traditional education is heavy with experts and benchmarks for learners to reach. Strength Based Education breaks this tradition to centre on individuals and their command of their own learning in achieving personal benchmarks.

This resource describes the techniques used to develop self management skills in the welfare environment. It argues that an adaptation to an educational environment is a small step particularly given the reframing of the National Reporting System in the Australian Literacy Skills Framework.

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Whose Responsibility? Employer’s views on developing their workers literacy, numeracy and employability skills

This research, based on face to face interviews with employers across a range of different industries, explored the challenges of developing literacy, numeracy and employability skills to meet work requirements. Employers reported that they believed that it is not realistic to expect the education and training system to provide them with job-ready applicants with all of the particular literacy, numeracy and employability skills required for work. These employers recognised the need, and their responsibility, to support the continuing development of these essential skills in the workplace. Whilst accepting responsibility for this challenge employers also reported that they needed help in identifying learning and development needs and in (re)designing work tasks and processes to support effective learning on the job and at work. These employers argued that taking a positive and proactive approach to addressing these issues is not only good for their employees, its good for their businesses.

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Lean Manufacturing: Solving problems, working together
(Disk 1)

This CD-ROM is part of a suite of products which has been developed especially for workers who may need help with reading, writing and/or numeracy tasks. Learners who are new to lean manufacturing or who need to refresh their knowledge will also find the resources useful.

This CD-ROM contains Resource Sheets, a Trainer Guide and a Learner Guide that may be printed out, or bought separately.

The resources have been mapped against the following units of competency from MCM30104 Certificate III in Competitive Manufacturing:

MCMS200A – Apply competitive manufacturing practices
PMASUP390A – Use structured problem solving tools
MCMT240A – Apply 5S procedures in a manufacturing environment

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Getting the Job Done: How employers use and value accredited training leading to a qualification

This study aims to gain a better understanding of how employers perceive and appreciate vocational education and training and the qualifications it offers. The report has some sobering messages for those aiming to promote mainstream training to industry and employers.

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Two Dimensional Work: Workplace literacy in the aged care & call centre industries

This study, also for the National Centre for Vocational Education Research, investigates the generic/employability skills of individuals who have been displaced from work. Based on face-to-face interviews with 120 individuals the study highlights the importance of experiential learning. It also identifies the importance of individuals critically thinking about their capabilities, ‘unpacking’ and ‘re-packing’ skills to enable transfer between work situations.

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The Changing Nature and Patterns of Work & Implications for VET

An overview of recent literature on changes in the nature and patterns of work and implications for Vocational Education & Training.

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The Food Safety for Maintenance Contractors Kit

The Food Safety for Maintenance Contractor Kit is designed to raise awareness about food safety and maintenance contractor practices in food businesses. The Kit promotes a collaborative approach between food businesses and maintenance contractors to ensure that a 'duty of care' is demonstrated by both parties and the chances of food contamination are reduced or eliminated.

The Food Safety for Maintenance Contractors Kit comprises 4 sections and these can be used in a number of different combinations :

1. A series of six Food Safety Fact Sheets plus an Introduction to the Fact Sheets and a Written Agreement.
2. A Pocket Booklet with key information about food safety practices.
3. A video, Trade Secrets: Contractors & Food Safety Procedures about good food safety practices for maintenance contractors working in food businesses.
4. Training Materials, Food Safety for Maintenance Contractors, which develop knowledge, understanding and awareness of good food safety work practices for maintenance contractors working in food businesses.

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Opening Doors: Tickart Project

Opening Doors - Enterprise Based Training in Action' is an innovative and unusual training program which reflects a company's specific needs, skills and processes, used as a demonstration of Best Practice in educational effectiveness.

The project components include a Professional Development Kit featuring resources for a full day workshop, a Videocassette and the Tickcart Project Case Study - the focus of the training program.

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Tickcart Project Professional Development Kit

The kit consists of three parts:

• a workshop manual
• a set of presenter's guide
• a set of workshop resources

The Workshop Manual is designed to be completed as participants respond to the activities throughout the course of the workshop. The kit was prepared as the basis of a full day workshop. It has been designed to assist participants to realise the potential for best practice training within industry and to assist them to transfer the approach to their own and other training environments.

A brief summary of the Tickcart Project is available in the Presenter's Guide . The Presenter's Guide is written for those who wish to adapt or reproduce the workshop for another audience. It gives background information about the activities and offers suggestions on presenting them, and provides a Set of Workshop Resources. The kit also contains a bibliography for those interested in deepening their understanding of this approach to industry training.

The kit is accompanied by a Video :- Opening Doors - Enterprise Based Training in Action.

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Workplace Learning and Change

Through 4 case studies Workplace Learning Initiatives’ researchers ask the questions:

• what makes an effective learning environment?
• what role does training play in creating a workplace learning environment?

Essential reading for trainers, manages and researchers interested in identifying the characteristics of a workplace learning environment.

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