The School of Vocational Design and Social Context partners with government and non-government agencies, professional bodies, businesses, research centres and the community in a number of ways.
A partnership with WHV in which we have been successful in a WTIF project re the development of gender equity units of competency. The products from this initiative will be a potential enhancement to our existing VE programs and perhaps some HE courses. We have/will receive funding resources for our role in this project.
A unique partnership with our School/ VCOSS and the State Government. The numbers for this year has been close to target. (120 participants into support programs)
Work on next year’s programs is proceeding well with their WTIF initiative informing the Cert III IDS program. There has been considerable interest from VCOSS members for a customised Cert IV Disability program to commence in March.
Success in receiving state government funding for a at risk youth program. This is the development of a designed traineeship model for a Cert IV Community Services initiative.
A relationship based on building skills (compliance/mandatory) in the aged care sector. This relationship has evolved of the past 3 years where RMIT have developed a number of work relation credentials applicable to day to day work practise.
The development of an accredited community sector leadership and management program for their existing workforce. The program is contextualised around current department practise requirements for aspiring and current middle management staff in the community services and disability sectors.
The development of a contextualised certificate IV in Training and Assessment program for this company who are licenced on behalf of various Government departments to provide audit coverage in respect to vocational education.
Since 2012 RMIT have been delivering AOD programs to locally control indigenous health and Community service organisations. To date we have achieved 210 graduates that have made a substantial impact on workforce shortage and community impact regarding quality care in respect to AOD.
The School have been successful in developing online capability for the delivery of translating and interpreting skills set accredited through the national regulator (NAATI). This program has Government support to delivery to 200 students over a 2-year period.
The Social Futures cluster have accreditation to deliver an international skills program in training and assessment. This is a contextual train the trainer program developed to support TVET in international jurisdictions.
The School also have developed through State Government support a blend (70/20/10) model of Individual Support which has the opportunity to be customised to international situations/workforce engaged in aged care support.
RMIT is working with Sapphire Care to upskill their workforce through tailored training packages.
Sapphire Care is an aged-care service provider focused on delivering exceptional care, lifestyle and surroundings, putting residents’ needs first.
RMIT and Sapphire Care are working together on the e-delivery of units from the Certificate III in Individual Support to develop Sapphire Care’s workforce skill set to better meet the needs of our ageing population.
Through a work-integrated learning arrangement, Sapphire Care also provides learning placements for RMIT students who are completing the Certificate III in Individual Support. These placements offer students the opportunity to apply their learning and engage in practical experience within an aged-care setting.
RMIT and Sapphire Care are continuing to explore other workforce initiatives.
RMIT is working with St John of God Accord to provide training to 15 staff in a Certificate IV in Disability.
St John of God Accord provides flexible, tailored disability support services throughout Melbourne's eastern, northern and western metropolitan regions.
This successfully delivered initiative was first delivered in 2016 and planning has commenced to continue this arrangement in the future.
RMIT has partnered with Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation, an organisation that provides leading holistic and culturally sensitive healthcare across 14 remote communities in the Northern Territory.
Under the partnership, RMIT teachers travel to Katherine to deliver intensive blocks of the Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs and Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs to Sunrise staff members over a year.
The partnership was established in response to Sunrise Health Service Corporation wanting to ensure their staff have the skills necessary to deal with the complexity of a client cohort that is one of the most disadvantaged in the world.
Sunrise Health Service Corporation CEO Dale Campbell said, “Sunrise likes establishing links with agencies that have a sense of social obligation.”
The program has since seen five groups of Sunrise workers undertake the Certificate IV and Diploma.
Indigenous visit to RMIT broadens vision for research and training
Remote health service graduates celebrate in NT
The Victorian Multicultural Commission’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship(OMAC) has close links with RMIT’s translating and interpreting department.
Each year, OMAC determines a list of languages that require increased interpreting support to meet the needs of Australia’s changing multicultural community.
OMAC provides scholarships to students who are studying RMIT’s Diploma of Interpretingand Advanced Diploma of Interpreting in these languages.
RMIT and Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Services have worked together since 2013 to provide training in alcohol and other drugs, mental health and case management for Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Services staff.
Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Services is an Australian Aboriginal community-controlled organisation that provides health services to the Katherine community and surrounding regions of the Northern Territory.
In 2016, RMIT also provided consultancy support to develop and provide a case management framework, which involved training 16 staff members. RMIT is working with the organisation to facilitate the case management framework rollout.
Yarra Community Housing (YCH) and RMIT have established an industry-led research partnership to address homelessness in Melbourne and, ultimately, help find a global solution.
This exciting new applied research program in urban homelessness and housing assistance will involve a team composed of a Professor of Urban Homelessness and Housing, a Postdoctoral Fellow, three PhD scholarship students and a dedicated lecturing position.
The purpose of the team is to undertake translational research that will lead to better lives for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The program is expected to commence in 2017.
New approach to address increasing rates of homelessness
Dr Anastasia Powell, RMIT lecturer in justice and legal studies and an associate member of the Centre for Applied Social Research (CASR), is working on a research partnership with Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS).
ANROWS is an independent, not-for-profit company established as an initiative under Australia’s National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010–2022.
Along with a multidisciplinary team of professionals, Anastasia is working on the 2017 National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey (NCAS) project, a national survey that collects vital information about Australians’ knowledge of and attitudes and responses towards violence against women, and attitudes towards gender equality.
The NCAS is one of the key monitoring mechanisms for the National Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and Their Children 2010–2022.
Acknowledgement of country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business. - Artwork created by Louisa Bloomer