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The WA DTSC is funded through the 'Dementia as a National Health Priority'
federal initiative and brings $1.3 million to the Centre over 3 years.
It aims to develop a career path for health professionals working with
people with dementia in metropolitan, remote and rural WA. It is a unique
and innovative multidisciplinary collaboration that combines significant
tertiary educational capacity and experience, industry knowledge and
service delivery environments, practical experience and health professional
representation. The Centre will address the training needs of nurses,
doctors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers and
psychologists, and other allied health professionals.
The WA DTSC has
adopted a four-level approach to learning:
Level 1: Undergraduate
Focus on complimenting existing content within current curricula,
adaptation of case studies, learning exercises; focus on increasing
awareness and application of foundation knowledge in relevant disciplines.
Level 2: Professional Practice
Focus on increasing knowledge and competence in current practice
settings, improving recognition and early intervention/referral, expanding
staff development programs, raising awareness among employers.
Level 3: Specialist Practice
Focus on developing specialist roles, expanding knowledge and competence,
raising awareness of evidence-based-practice, preparing for 'new' specialist
roles.
Level 4: Advance Professional Practice
Focus on leadership research and practice roles within disciplines
and settings, preparing for 'advanced practice' (nurse practitioner,
GP specialist).
The WA DTSC has identified training competencies for each of the four levels listed above.
Educational activities will include, but not be restricted to, workshops,
structured courses, mentored practical learning experiences, as well
as articulation with other existing courses. Strategies will also be
developed, in partnership with appropriate representatives, to meet the
needs of rural and remote practitioners as well as Indigenous and CALD
communities.
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