Tauiwi Caucus E-learning Pilots
Over the last year, TOAH-NNEST’s Tauiwi Caucus conducted an E-Learning pilot course titled Introduction to Specialist Sexual Violence Crisis Support Work. By conducting six separate pilot courses across approximately a 12-month period, a total of 156 participants across Aotearoa engaged in the course. What we learned was how the specialist sexual violence sector values access to online learning and training and the course remains open so enrolled participants can continue to learn at their own pace.
On completion of all pilots, we collected feedback through comments posted in the Learning Hub, pre- and post- quizzes embedded throughout the course, lesson feedback forms and four individual interviews. After analysing the feedback, participants stated they found the content easily accessible, easy to understand, straightforward and provided good background history of the dynamics of sexual violence. It was important for participants that the course covered trauma-informed practice, criminal justice, counselling, and social work as they saw these topics incorporated under sexual violence crisis work.
All participants saw the benefit of using online courses as support tools to connect with others in the sector and the consistency of information across different organisations was mentioned as a key factor. Also highlighted was the benefit of having a discussion forum on the course that allowed learners to connect with other agencies and the different experiences of people in the sector. This was seen as beneficial for those agencies who are working with survivors.
One comment illustrated connecting the sector nationwide:
‘’I think having an online training tool which is interactive and readily available to anyone anywhere is such a brilliant idea. The fact this will be available to crisis support workers nationwide makes it more important and valuable in the learning.” Another participant noted: ‘’For our sector, this online training program could mean an increase in support workers with a variety of backgrounds, skill sets, and experiences that could positively impact our field of work.”
The biggest learnings or takeaways from the course were broken down into three key areas. Broadly, these were:
- Sexual violence is a specialised topic and acknowledging the complexities of the work is paramount
- The importance of engaging with Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the impacts of colonisation
- A focus on culturally inclusive practice when working with survivors
When participants were asked what value they thought online training would bring to the sector, responses were having the consistency of knowledge and practice, providing a good foundation of knowledge and accessibility, improving service delivery and culturally inclusive practice.
When looking to the future of E-learning for the sector, having the correct tools and support from your organisation was especially important to the participants in order for them to thrive in their work. For the course to be socialised effectively and to increase user completion rates, it was recommended that organisations need resources to support workers to complete the online course during work time, Team Leaders need support to know how to best utilise the online course in their organisation and timing is essential as ideally new workers are signed up in their first week on the job as this is when their motivation to learn is at its peak.
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