Dementia leaders training program aspires for practical change
Published on 6 July 2023
An innovative dementia training program hopes to overcome obstacles preventing freshly gained knowledge from actually being implemented and utilised in practical aged care settings.
Targeted at aged care professionals with existing dementia knowledge and leadership skills, Dementia Champions aims to inform and support participants who can influence and create change through improved policies and initiatives in the workplace.
- Dementia Champions has been designed to create consistent practice across Australia in caring for and supporting people with dementia
- The program’s been developed by Dementia Training Australia experts at several leading universities
- Dementia Champions should be ready for launch in July 2024 following a pilot and evaluation process across late 2023/early 2024
Dr Christine While, a Dementia Training Australia consultant at the La Trobe University hub, identified a need to bridge the gap between education and implementation of new learnings in a workplace that wasn’t quite ready for change. She said it’s all too common for organisations to not have the scope or framework to implement new approaches to dementia care.
“You actually need to allow staff to put what they’ve learned into practice and that’s what we call knowledge translation. After training, learners are inspired and motivated by the course and want to go implement what they have learned in the workplace,” Dr While said.
“But the workplace hasn’t changed and isn’t ready to support any changes in practices. Staff then become disillusioned and it’s a lost opportunity for the organisation to maximise the benefits of that knowledge and to get a return on investment for the cost of training.”
“I strongly believe that by supporting behaviour change at the individual and staff level this is where the crux of the issue lies. I really haven’t found anyone else that does it like this, using implementation science and behaviour science. There are other models that have used champions or agents of change but none of them looked at the behavioural component of how to support staff with the application of knowledge. And we are doing all of this in the flow of work.”
With aspirational hopes of being the “magic bullet” aged care needs to bring about widespread institutional change in dementia care, the signs are positive for Dementia Champions. Industry input during the program’s development has already led to a refined and focused education program. That involvement has pleased providers who are keen to invest in the creation of their very own Dementia Champions.
What’s involved in the program?
- Dementia Training Australia mentors will support participants
- Individualised development plans will be created, with a focus on lifelong learning and the implementation of a passion project of their choice
- Industry feedback led to the course being reduced from 24 days of e-learning and training to just ten days over four months
- An initial pilot will include 16 Dementia Champions from a range of aged care settings
With a focus on upskilling both existing and aspiring aged care leaders within the dementia space, Dementia Champions’ evidence-based approach to learning identifies where workplace practice can be improved and strengthened. Meanwhile, participants will also learn how to better support and mentor their own staff once they’ve completed the course.
The unified approach to training also means there will be a larger cohort of aged care professionals who understand the need to shake up dementia care with a short-term focus on improved models of care.
“People are often resistant to change, whether it’s because they are comfortable working the way they do, or because of fear of change. You need a catalyst to help people change, and that’s your Dementia Champion,” Dr While said.
“It’s about staff thinking ‘ok I’ve got the knowledge, how do I now apply that to my day-to-day practice when caring for a person with dementia?’ and for me that’s the magic bullet. If we can get staff feeling safe, supported, and competent in changing the way they work, then the outcomes will be better care and staff will feel more satisfied with their work.”