An innovative new $1.5 million training package funded by the Victorian Government will give disability and aged care students real-life skills to prepare them for the workforce.
The package is part of the Developing the Growing new NDIS (psychosocial disability) Workforce Project and includes virtual reality learning tools, videos and podcasts that place users in a series of realistic scenarios.
“We’ve made a record investment to strengthen the Victorian skills and training sector through projects like this one – to ensure people can access the training they need to secure an in-demand job,” said Minister for Training and Skills, Gayle Tierney.
“These new training resources will give students an interactive and safe environment to prepare themselves to support people experiencing barriers due to psycho-social disabilities.”
The Minister said psychosocial disabilities sometimes arise from mental health issues and create severe social disadvantages, including restricting a person’s ability to concentrate, participate in certain environments and interact with others.
The new training package will also collect data on the students’ emotional and physical responses that will help improve their learning experience.
It was designed by the complex mental health and disability service provider ermha365 in partnership with Wodonga TAFE and Mental Health Victoria.
“We’re excited to be at the forefront of innovative training that will help grow a highly skilled workforce in disability and aged care,” said ermha365 CEO, Karenza Louis-Smith.
Ermha365 is currently undertaking an in-house pilot program before the resources are trailed at Wodonga TAFE and Monash University mid-2021. The tools will then be rolled-out to all Victorian TAFEs that offer the Certificate IV in Disability course and to providers, to be used during the recruitment process.
