Disability workers training

NDIS Transition scholarships are an award of financial aid for the professional development of the disability and/or psychosocial disability workforces in Victoria. These scholarships support employees to undertake study in 2020 in an undergraduate or postgraduate course, or a course that leads to a qualification. The scholarship covers course fees only.

Applications are closed

Suggested courses to apply for

For a list of suggested courses considered relevant to the Disability and Psychosocial Disability workforces, read the suggested course list.

Find courses and course providers

To find and compare the outcomes, durations and locations of nationally-accredited courses of interest, the My skills website may assist you.

This search tool is designed for courses delivered by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.

To find Higher Education courses (e.g. Bachelor, Masters, Associate degrees) delivered by Universities, the Good Universities Guide website may assist you. This search tool is designed for courses delivered by Universities (and TAFES) in Victoria and interstate.

Contact

For general enquiries about the Human services workforce scholarship grant program email Workforce scholarships or phone (03) 9096 2623 (Tuesday to Friday) or (03) 9096 5760 (Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday)

The Certificate IV in Disability qualification addresses work in residential group homes, training resource centres, day respite centres and open employment services, other community settings and clients' homes.

See the CHC40308 - Certificate IV in Disability page on the Training.gov.au website for a list of the units of competency.

The Fire safety induction program for 24 hour supported accommodation (FSIP) provides new starters in the department and in community services organisations residential settings with the necessary fire and emergency response skills to evacuate people safely from a residential facility and to comply with relevant departmental fire safety checks.

Target group for FSIP:

• Secure facilities
• Supported community-based houses - Disability Accommodation Services (DAS)
• Community Services Organisation (CSO) - congregate care facilities (Children, Youth and Families and Disability)
• Community-based houses (Children, Youth and Families - Out-of-home care).

We are undertaking a coordinated program of work to strengthen safeguards for people with disabilities, and to build a culture of zero tolerance to abuse in disability services in Victoria.

This work responds to recommendations made in the Ombudsman Report and Parliamentary Inquiry into abuse in disability services.

To access the eLearning resources, see Understanding abuse page of the the National Disability Services website.

Client incidents that occur during service delivery and result in harm to a client are required to be reported by all in-scope services in the Client Incident Management System (CIMS).

The CIMS focuses on the safety and wellbeing of our clients by outlining the approach and key actions to manage client incidents.

The requirement to report client incidents through CIMS applied to department funded organisations and National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers from 15 January 2018 and for department staff of selected delivered services from 1 October 2018.

For further information please refer to the CIMS policy page, or for learning and development opportunities, refer to the CIMS Learning and Development page.

The Positive Behaviour Support learning program is designed as a three day learning program for disability accommodation support staff.

The learner’s guide is designed to assist throughout the three day program, and provide a resource to utilise in ongoing implementation of Positive Behaviour Support strategies throughout everyday work practice.

Positive behaviour support is a team-based approach and in completing this course, you will work with your staffing team to:

• Work through the steps for gathering information about the individual
• Describe, measure/record and identify the function of behaviours
• Articulate the components of the positive behaviour support framework
• Plan and use a range of immediate response strategies
• Explain to all members of an individual’s circle of support including: family, support teams, managers, Community Visitors, and others your rationale for strategies/decisions.
• Work together, consistently as a team to implement the plan you develop.

Positive behaviour support learning program – Disability accommodation services staff (word).

Procedure to follow when there is an infectious disease outbreak.

When more than one person at a location becomes ill and all affected people have the same symptoms it may be an infectious disease outbreak.

There are 3 steps to follow in an infectious disease outbreak.

1. Refer to the Blue Book for information about what additional precautions are required.
2. Contact your regional Work Health Unit or Public Health for support in applying information from Blue Book.
3. Notify the Department of Health and Human Services on 1300 651 160. 

Further Support and Advice

The Public Health 'Blue Book' is the main source of infection control information in Victoria. Staff must refer to the Blue Book for information about infection control that is additional to the practice instructions.

The regional Work Health Unit is available to provide staff with general advice and support in relation to this practice instruction, the Blue Book and all other infection control issues.

Regional Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) at the local council and Public Health, Department of Health and Human Services are also recommended for assistance and information regarding infection control practice.

The Brushing up on oral health video has been developed jointly by Dental Health Services Victorian and Disability Services to assist disability support workers to promote good oral health care for people with an intellectual disability.

The video covers:

• General strategies
• Oral hygiene techniques
• The best way to brush teeth
• The best way to floss teeth
• The best way to clean dentures
• Overcoming resistance to oral health care
• Overcoming other challenges
• Advice and information.

Resource manual

The Acquired brain injury resource manual contains the content of the learning program, together with exercises, self-tests and readings designed to enhance your knowledge of this important area. The Resource Manual is designed to be used in conjunction with the Learner Guide.

Learner guide

The Acquired brain injury Learner Guide is designed to help you to work through the Resource Manual and the activities provided for getting your head around Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). The Learner Guide may also help you to:

• Plan your learning induction (perhaps with the support of a workplace supervisor)
• Build your skills as a learner
• Plan ways to apply and practise what you learn
• Keep a record of completed activities and tasks
• Apply for skills recognition.

Getting your head around ABI - Disability learner guide (pdf).

The Administration of Medication Checklist (AMC) is a tool that can be used by supervisors to support and coach staff in on the job learning related to the administration of medication. The AMC is to be used in conjunction with the policies and the practice guidelines of the Residential Services Practice Manual. Completion of the checklist  provides evidence that the task has been completed under supervision.

The AMC may be provided to new starters as part of the Disability Induction course and the new starter may be asked to complete this checklist on the job with a client or in a simulated exercise and under supervision.

The AMC can be used as a coaching tool by supervisors for staff who:

• Require extra support on the job
• Identify a need to refresh their skill through professional development and support

The AMC may form part of the range of evidence that is compiled by a staff member towards the completion of the Unit of Competency CHCCS305C - Assist clients with medication - from the Community Services Health Training Package (CHC08).

The AMC is to be completed under supervision and by a person at a level senior to the staff member, such as, a manager / supervisor at the DDSO 2, 2A 3, 3A level or a workplace assessor.

Administration of medication checklist (word).

The Practitioners' guide to the Disability Act 2006 (the practitioners' guide) provides information to people working in the disability sector, in both community service organisations and the Department of Health & Human Services, about how the Disability Act 2006 applies to the provision of support to people with a disability. It can also be used by students and trainers in a disability studies course.

The guide shows how the Disability Act 2006 applies to the provision of support to people with a disability in the key areas of:

• The intent and principles of the Disability Act 2006
• Providing information
• Community inclusion
• Planning
• Residential services
• Complaints and system improvement
• Restrictive interventions.

The practitioners’ guide has been designed particularly for new workers or workers changing jobs within organisations but can be used by all staff working in disability services. It includes information, case studies, links to further information and quizzes.

Practitioners' guide to the Disability Act 2006 (word).

The  Restrictive Interventions Self-Evaluation Tool (RISET) is an online learning tool for people with an interest in restrictive interventions.

The tool is a survey that guides users through important information to help them understand when a restrictive intervention has occurred.

The RISET logo will now be appearing with any content associated with RISET.

Access the Restrictive Intervention Self-assessment Tool (RISET) tool.

How the tool works

The RISET can help answer specific questions about restrictive interventions.

For example, if you have a question about the use of a seat-belt buckle, the RISET will:

• Ask you to select which section you want - for example, mechanical restraint
• Ask you a series of questions which will guide you to information about seat belt buckles and
• Provide information about when the use of a buckle is considered restrictive.

You can save a PDF copy of the survey at the end which will show the questions you have asked and the related information. You can keep this on the client’s file to show how you have determined whether a restrictive intervention has occurred.

An action plan and webinars will also be developed in the future to help further educate people about restrictive interventions. Our goal is to create an Easy English version so people with a disability can use the RISET.

Using the tool

The RISET can be used on mobile phones, laptops, tablets and PCs.

In conjunction with the Office of Professional Practice (DHHS), the Victorian Dual Disability Service (VDDS) have developed an e-learning resource on mental health.

This aims to provide the carers of people with an intellectual disability with information and the opportunity to increase their skills in the area of dual disability.

To access the eLearning resources, see the VDDS training site.