Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people to identify community health information needs and to implement and evaluate routine health promotion, education and screening programs within that community. Information, education and promotion services may include nutrition, healthy lifestyle and promotion of holistic health.
This unit applies to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers working as part, and under the supervision, of a multidisciplinary primary health care team to provide a range of primary health care services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria specify the level of performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Participate in the identification of community health information needs | 1.1 Use culturally appropriate and safe communication and interaction when working with community representatives 1.2 Engage with community to identify current health needs and priorities, and gauge effectiveness of existing health education and promotion programs 1.3 Identify specific groups within community needing information in a particular health area 1.4 Discuss community feedback and needs with supervisor and primary health care team in the organisation or service provider |
2. Plan a health promotion and education program to deliver information to community | 2.1 Use feedback from community consultation as a basis for planning community health information programs 2.2 Work with the primary health care team to determine health information to address identified community needs 2.3 Consult with community representatives to plan health promotion, including identifying community members to be involved in delivery 2.4 Consider cultural practices and beliefs when determining information needs and delivery of the program 2.5 Confirm plans for the delivery of health information program with primary health care team to ensure legislative and organisation procedures are met 2.6 Document all details of the health information program according to organisation procedures |
3. Participate in the delivery of health promotion and education services | 3.1 Use culturally appropriate and safe communication and interaction to deliver health information and promote health 3.2 Conduct health promotion and education in partnership with the community 3.3 Ensure service delivery meets community, legislative and organisation requirements 3.4 Ensure health promotion and education activities support clients to take a self-care approach to health and in line with individual needs and organisation and community requirements |
4. Participate in routine health screening services | 4.1 Explain screening procedure and purpose to client using culturally appropriate and safe communication 4.2 Obtain feedback from client to determine whether procedure is understood and consent is given 4.3 Make client as comfortable as possible 4.4 Prepare screening equipment 4.5 Assist in routine screening in line with community, legislative and organisation requirements |
5. Participate in the evaluation of health promotion and education services | 5.1 Consult community about the effectiveness of health promotion and education 5.2 Ensure evaluation includes effectiveness of health promotion resources, involvement of community as a partner and community response to information provided 5.3 Consult community to identify any obstacles to application of the information 5.4 Discuss feedback and possible improvements with other members of the team and supervisor |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role.
There must be evidence that the candidate has:
assisted with basic health screening of at least three Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients by:
- using culturally appropriate and safe communication skills to help clients to understand procedures
- assisting primary health care team members with preparing for and carrying out screening procedures
assisted in developing and delivering at least one health promotion and education service by:
- using basic research skills to obtain, summarise and provide feedback on community information
- helping to prepare written, spoken or digital health information to address needs of community
- communicating effectively with clients to identify needs
- communicating effectively to deliver health information and education services, using visual and other aids as required.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role.
This includes knowledge of:
- organisation policies and procedures and legislation or regulations relating to:
o client confidentiality
o referral, including various levels of urgency, and follow-up of client
o mandatory reporting
o notifiable communicable diseases
o limits of own ability and authority
o reporting procedures
o documentation
o basic screening procedures.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated working:
in a health service or centre
as part of, and under the supervision of, a multidisciplinary primary health care team
with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities.
In addition, simulations and scenarios must be used where the full range of contexts and situations cannot be provided in the workplace or may occur only rarely. These are situations relating to emergency or unplanned procedures where assessment in these circumstances would be unsafe or is impractical.
Simulated assessment environments must simulate the real-life working environment where these skills and knowledge would be performed, with all the relevant equipment and resources of that working environment.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Assessment must be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in this unit of competency and who is:
an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker
or:
accompanied by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care.
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance. |
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency. |