The Associate Degree in Dementia Care

1. The Associate Degree in Dementia Care School of Nursing & Midwifery

2. An outline of the morning at Cradle Coast

3. A potted history of the AssocDegDemCare • 2005 WICKING centre established at UTAS • Research Grant awarded to investigate the provision for Dementia Care in Tasmania • Discussion Paper commissioned to investigate the feasibility of developing a formal education program around Understanding Dementia •  TOO DIFFICULT • Further discussions within the University, Community, Aged Care Providers, Government Services, Peak Bodies • In February 2011, WICKING embarked on an uphill journey and formally proposed the new Associate Degree in Dementia Care • Approved by Academic Senate in March 2012 • Applications opened in July 2012 • Over 200 applicants across Tasmania and NSW • Course kick off - October, 2012 • Semester 1 CAD002/CAD004 February, 2013 • Semester 2 July 2013 – Second cohort roll out

4. Andrea Carr Acting course coordinator James Vickers Co director WICKING, Head of School of Medicine Andrew Robinson Co director of WICKING, School of Nursing and Midwifery Justin Walls Associate Dean Learning and Teaching, Faculty of Health Fran MacInerny Assoc. Professor Aged Care, ACU Tony Carew Educational technologist Amanda Harper Student Support Officer Jo-Anne Kelder Evaluation Officer Jane Skalicky Student Centre Darren Mathewson ACST CEO Janet Glaser ACSA NSW&ACT training Officer Sally Browne ACSA SA Helen Ceperkovic CAD002 Unit Coordinator Tamara Gee CAD004 Unit Coordinator Administrative Support Steve Giltjes The AssocDegDemCareTeam

5. This course targets • current workers in the field of aged and dementia care to improve the quality of care in this sector and • the wider community who are interested to know more about dementia • There are no final exams for any of the units • Offered part-time to allow for ongoing employment • 2 units per semester, 2.5 years to complete • Each semester is 13 weeks long Associate Degree in Dementia Care

6. All units will be offered in flexible delivery mode, which means a mixture of face to face teaching, online learning, email and phone contact. • The first four support units have compulsory attendance days • 4-5 face to face teaching days per semester at a UTAS campus which may be on a weekend • This SEMESTER - 3 days in Weeks 1 or 2 • 2 days in Week 7 , 8, or 9 • Supported online throughout the semester – MyLO, email, phone, tutorials, etc. • The remaining units will have optional attendance days • Typically 1 day at the beginning • Supported online throughout the semester Associate Degree in Dementia Care

7. There is a HECS waiver available for some students for study undertaken in 2013 • If you are in the Aged Care workforce, have the support of your employer, and your employer is a member of ACST, ACSA NSW & ACT or ACSA SA • All students must pay the Services and Amenities Fee of $262 per year for a full time student (new Federal Legislation law, 2012) • Scaled down for part time students • All students will require access to text books and a computer with current software and an internet connection Associate Degree in Dementia Care - Costs

8. The first four support units of this course teach general skills in online technology, communication, basic biology and develop your confidence for tertiary studyin the context of aged and dementia care. Attendance compulsory • Four Understanding Dementia units introduce you to the normal ageing processes, what goes wrong in dementia and how various therapies are used to help people with dementia. Offered in Distance mode, with optional attendance. • Four Models of Healthcare units introduce you to current care options in Australia, core principles of supportive care and palliation, and how to effectively communicate with people with dementia. Offered in Distance mode, with optional attendance. • Free choice for the last four units depending on interest. What students learn?

9. Support Units Semester 2 (July-Oct) Technology and learning online as applied to aged care General Studies in Dementia in Australia Compulsory attendance 2013 Semester 5 (Oct-Feb) Neurospeak – understanding the nervous system Effective Communication in Health Studies Models of Healthcare Understanding Dementia Semester 1 (Feb-June) 2014 Introduction to Dementia Care in Australia Introduction to Ageing, the Brain and Dementia Semester 2 (July-Oct) Principles of Supportive Care for People With Dementia Population Trends in Ageing Principles of Palliation in Dementia Care The Biology of Ageing and Dementia Semester 5 (Oct-Feb) Distance mode with optional attendance Effective Communication with People with Dementia & their carers Preventative and Therapeutic Approaches in Dementia Care Semester 1 (Feb-June) 2015 Choose 4 electives; for example Semester 2 (July-Oct) Innovations in Case Management Workplace Unit in Dementia Care Regulation and Documentation in Aged Care Chronic Illness, Complex Needs and Comorbidity in Aged Care Semester 5 (Oct-Feb)

10. More Information? • Outcomes – first cohort roll out • Dedicated Student Support • Low student attrition rate • “I just got back from overseas holiday and logged on. This new unit looks great, can't wait to learn more on the Brain and Dementia.” • “I really enjoyed researching and learning about my topic.” • “What an amazing subject, neuroscience is fascinating, oh so much to learn. It feels like its all coming together though.” • “I have actually missed my study after a much needed 2 week break.” http://www.utas.edu.au/wicking/edu/dementia-care

11. More Information? http://www.utas.edu.au/wicking/edu/dementia-care http://www.utas.edu.au/wicking/edu/dementia-care Applications are online and now open

12. Contact Details Dr Andrea Carr Acting Course Coordinator Associate Degree in Dementia Care School of Medicine Locked Bag 143 University of Tasmania Hobart 7000 Tasmania A.R.Carr@utas.edu.au (03) 6226 4667 General Enquiries: AssocDeg.DemCare@utas.edu.au