The WA DTSC has funded collaborative projects which help the centre to achieve its goals and activities. Below is a list of current projects:
- Name of project: UWA - RPH Undergraduate Medical Education Node.
Organisations responsible: University of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital
and WA DTSC.
Team Lead: Dr Christopher Beer (University of Western Australia)
Aim: Development of a WA undergraduate medical curriculum in dementia.
Target audience: Undergraduate Medical students.
Project status: The curriculum is now finalised and being used by the
University of Western Australia.
- Name of project: Assessment and management of confusion focusing on delirium in the acute care setting.
Organisation responsible: Curtin University of Technology, School of Nursing
and Midwifery
Team Lead: Associate Professor Dianne Wynaden (Curtin
University School of Nursing and Midwifery).
Aim: Development of self directed learning package for nurses working in
the acute care sector.
Target audience: Nursing staff working in the acute sector.
Project status: The self directed learning package
is complete and available on the WA DTSC web site.
- Name of project: Effective mobility management for people with dementia
Organisations responsible: Independent Living Centre (ILC), AA WA, McCusker
Learning and WA DTSC.
Team Lead: Veronica Naughton (ILC).
Aim: Improve mobility practice and expertise for
health professionals delivering care to people living
with dementia.
Target audience: Health care professionals including
OTs, Physiotherapists and RNs.
Project status: The workshop has been successfully
piloted twice and is available through the Independent Living
Centre.
- Name of project: Working with dementia in today's world.
Organisation responsible: Canning Division of General Practice
Team Lead: Dr Nick Bretland and Noelleen Gardner
from Canning Division of GPs.
Aim: To develop and implement a user "Tool
Kit" education and training
package to GPs and Practice Nurses.
Target audience: GPs and Practice Nurses within
Canning Division of General Practice.
Project status: This training package has been piloted
successfully.
- Name of project: Care of the person with dementia in the acute care environment - Development
of Dementia Champions
Organisations responsible: AA WA and WA DTSC.
Team Lead: Dr Pam Nichols, Alzheimer's Australia
WA
Aim: To develop, implement and evaluate an acute care dementia package that
meets the needs of trainers within the acute care sector.
Target audience: Health professionals working in the acute care sector.
Project status: This training package has been successfully
piloted and is available through Alzheimer's Australia
Western Australia.
- Name of project: Employer Reward Program
Organisations responsible: WA DTSC and nominated organisations in Perth.
Team Lead: Linda Grenade WA DTSC
Aim: To recognise an organisation which can demonstrate
a commitment to developing a career pathway for health
professionals.
Target audience: Organisations in acute care, residential care and community
based services.
Project status: The pilot phase for this initiative
has been completed.
-
Name of project: Recognising and Responding to Dementia
in Indigenous Communities
Organisations responsible: WA DTSC and SA
DTSC
Team Lead: Linda Grenade WA DTSC
Aim: To provide primary health care workers from
remote communities with both the knowledge and the skills
to provide quality dementia care and support.
Target audience: Health care workers in rural and
remote areas
Project status: This course has been successfully
piloted in Alice Springs, Darwin and Carnarvon. A further
course is to be held in Narrogin in November. Please
contact the WA DTSC for further information.
- Name of project: Development of a core dementia unit
for a proposed multidisciplinary postgraduate course
Organisations responsible: Curtin University of Technology,
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Team Lead: Associate Professor Chris Toye (Curtin University
School of Nursing and Midwifery)
Aim: Develop, pilot and evaluate an interdisciplinary post
graduate introductory unit in dementia.
Target audience: Post graduate health professional students
including nurses, GPs, physiotherapists, occupational
therapists, psychologists and social workers.
Project status: Curriculum currently in development. Unit
to be offered in first semester 2010 (Perth only)
and as a professional development unit in two rural locations (also
in 2010). Please contact the WA DTSC for further information.
- Name of project: Scholarship support for a doctoral
student
Organisations responsible: Curtin University of Technology,
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Team Lead: Associate Professor Dianne Wynaden (Curtin University
School of Nursing and Midwifery)
Aim: To support a doctoral student to complete research
on the development of a screening process to detect delirium in
older patients in the hospital emergency department.
Target audience: Doctoral candidates/students involved
in the health professions
Project status: Research in progress.
