Executive+Summary+039

This program will work with a group of new e-Learners who have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Participants will be selected on the basis that are receiving medical intervention and actively involved in psychosocial rehabilitation.

The program has a number of primary goals. Firstly it will include individuals from the target group mentioned above and provide a hand-on E-learning experience for them. The program will be designed to ensure the participants have a unique opportunity for personal development in a supportive environment. The program will also provide an appropriate platform for participants to gain a range of skills that will be a solid foundation for them to build on at a later time; especially if they make the decision to undertake another vocational training program.

There is a large body of research to support the claim that learners who are dealing with a mental illness find it difficult to return to formal education. Identified barriers include: inability to form positive social connections, poor community engagement skills, fear of failure, anxiety about the social stigma associated with their illness and their ability to manage it in a new environment. Sufferers also report increases in a wide range of stress and anxiety, low self confidence, and uncertainty about their general coping skills.

This program will be designed to reduce, or remove, most of the perceived barriers, anxieties and fears. A primary focus will be to develop a safe environment that will allow trust to build quickly.

The project involves the development, delivery and evaluation of a creative writing E-learning program. The program will serve multiple purposes for the client including assistance with relapse prevention through expressive and articulated content, literacy education, self awareness development and common interest. We envisage that this program will establish an accessible educational option for people whose mental health status can be variable.

The targeted group will be drawn from Kaiyu Konnect, clients. This is an enterprise that offers psychosocial rehabilitation and community based activities for clients with a mental illness. Kaiyu Konnect clients vary in age, gender, culture and socio-economic backgrounds. Individuals will be carefully selected and interview as part of the participant selection progress.

TAFE NSW Hunter Institute has already indicated that after the completion of the project, it will explore addition partnership opportunities to assist a wider group of people who fit the target group.

A component of the project research phase is for an E-learning Consultant and Course Development Specialist, to source and evaluate the wide range of appropriate E-learning tools and products that have been created, and assess them for inclusion in the delivery stage. These products will include, but will not be limited to, toolboxes, ARED, LORN, ILC options etc. When the evaluation has been completed the delivery model will be developed to ensure participating learners will find them easy to use and access.

The decision about the final E-learning model will be made in consultation with TAFE NSW Hunter Institute, technology professionals and the Australian Flexible Learning Framework.

The creative writing content will be delivered over a 10 week period. Participants will attend an Awareness and Familiarisation session at the Glendale campus. They will also complete a survey to assist the program operators to identify their attitudes about the program and the barriers they face. A major stage of the course delivery will be a series of face-to-face sessions to provide the participants with the knowledge and skill they require to access and work the technology that they will use throughout the course.

Provision for tutorial support will be included in the project. Support will include study group meetings at the TAFE campus and at the Kaiyu Konnect ‘club house’. The course design will include regular contact with the online facilitator via email and telephone. Students will receive continuous feed back about their progress and advice to assist them where required.

The identified benefits of this project are significant. It will provide a direct pathway to other vocational education and training opportunities, but of equal importance, it will help participants to develop and overcome a range of social barriers that have previously impacted negatively on their lives.