Enabling Technology

Free

Overview

*This credential is only available to current RMIT students


Across every industry, innovative technologies are transforming the nature of everyday work, and the aged and disabled care sectors are no exception. Care organisations are looking to retool their practices to make the most of these new inventions – and for anyone looking to work in the industry it’s vital to understand their use and impact.


This course gives you a broad overview of the recent advances in technology being used in the care industry. You’ll learn about new and emerging technologies and how to put them to use in your day-to-day care, and find out which innovations are funded under the National Disability Insurance Scheme and can be readily incorporated into service plans. You’ll also gain general technology skills such as how to use software to manage administration, along with strategies for building your tech knowledge into the future.

Skills and learning outcomes

  • Describe the impact of the pace of technology developments for older people, people with disability and for workers
  • Describe the term ‘assistive technology’
  • Explain the use of assistive technology in transforming and building better lives for older people and people with disability
  • Describe the concept of a digital divide and its impact for people who cannot access and use assistive technologies
  • Recognise some of the limitations on purchasing technology under the NDIS and in the aged care sector
  • Describe the benefits and risks of existing and emerging technologies in the social service sector including computers, mobile devices, email, social media, robots, artificial intelligence, mobility aids and smart home technologies
  • Apply strategies to assist service users to adopt and use technologies
  • Adapt to changes in technology in the workplace


Content

  • How technology has been used to improve lives
  • Technology funded under the NDIS
  • Barriers to adopting technology
  • The digital divide
  • Public attitudes to technology and the visibility of particular technologies
  • Use of computers and mobile devices in the social services sector
  • Use of emails and social media in the social services sector
  • Use of artificial intelligence and robots in the social services sector
  • Use of mobility aids in the social services sector
  • Use of smart home technologies in the social services sector
  • The changing nature of technology
  • Teaching strategies to assist service users to build their technology skills


How does it work ?

By completing online scenarios and quizzes, the earner of this credential demonstrated an understanding of the new and emerging technologies being used in the care sector, including which innovations are funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme and how they can be incorporated into care plans. They also showed an ability to use software to manage administrative tasks, and an understanding of how to continue to develop their tech skills independently.

When can I do it ?