e-learning: Social Housing Certificate IV and Diploma Community Housing Industry Integration of e-learning project  Online learning has really taken off at the NSW FHA.  Participants are enjoying the benefits and flexibility online learning offers, including using chat rooms, discussion forums, online quizzes, games and blogs.  Having our training programs available via e-learning has also meant that our training is not only more accessible for regional organisations throughout NSW, but we have more people participating from around Australia.  There has also been some interest from overseas which is very exciting.
Are you interested in free technologies available to use in community housing? Check out the demonstration page – A cart full of e-learning goodies: click here		Laurel Draffen NSWFHA elearning champion and project manager gives a brief overview of the project. Click on her photo to listen.

To learn more about the e-learning project click on Laurel’s photo and listen as she explains briefly what the project is all about.

Further information is available on the Flexible learning website

E-Learning units coming up:

Manage OHS processes HLTOHS500A - Sept 2010
This is a compulsory unit for the Diploma of Social Housing CHC50808.

Further details regarding this unit will be provided shortly.

Commencement Date:  to be confirmed

Develop and implement a community renewal plan CHCCD620B - November 2010
This is a compulsory unit for the Diploma of Social Housing CHC50808.

Further details regarding this unit will be provided shortly.

Commencement Date:  to be confirmed

Units currently being delivered online:

Complex Needs
This training program incorporates the following 2 units: 

• Provide services to clients with complex needs CHCCS504A
  This is a compulsory unit for the Certificate IV in Social Housing and is an elective unit option for the Diploma of Social Housing

• Assess and provide services for clients with complex needs CHCCH416A
  This is an elective unit option for both the Certificate IV and the Diploma of Social Housing

This course assists housing workers to identify and understand complex needs in the community housing setting.  Participants will learn how complex needs are defined, the ways in which different complex needs present and interact, strategies and skills for assessment, planning, referral, and ongoing tenancy management.  Participants will also learn ways to assess risk and identify situations and solutions for cases where tenants and applicants may require different models of accommodation or housing than your service is able to provide.  This course is suited to all housing staff who work with tenants and applicants.

You will be asked to participate in interactive sessions for approximately 1 hour per week as well as complete additional tasks and assessment work as outlined in the week by week guide.

Commencement Date:  2nd August 2010
Duration:  7 weeks (finishing 20th September 2010)
Cost:     $245 (members)     $290 (non-members)

Next delivery to be advised. Please click here to register your interest.

Maintain legal and ethical work practices CHCCS502A
This online Diploma level unit is being offered as a free pilot for middle managers in community housing for the first time.

This unit is about maintaining the application of legal and ethical work practices.  The topics for this unit are:

·        Promoting the importance of applying legislation and common law relevant to work roles

·        Monitoring the application of your organisation’s policies and practices

·        Monitoring ethical work practices

·        Taking appropriate corrective action when client rights and interests are not being protected

Course start date & duration: Commencing the week beginning 28 June 2010 – for 8 weeks Delivery mode: via online learning using the Moodle platform and Adobe Connect for interactive live sessions.
Time commitment: You will need to commit to 5 – 8 hours per week – this is an interactive course where a little often is the best way to participate. 
Cost: No fee is attached but we ask for a commitment to participate in providing feedback and contributing to ongoing activities to encourage e-learning in community housing. You are required as part of this pilot program to complete the 3 feedback components for this unit. These are an online survey, an online interactive session and a questionnaire specific to your online learning experience.

Next delivery to be advised. Please click here to register your interest.

 

Units that have been delivered to date
The following units being delivered via e-learning by the NSW Federation of Housing associations are:

Workplace Safety:  Contribute to OHS processes HLTOHS300A
This is a compulsory unit for the Certificate IV in Social Housing

If you are working in social housing, you have a responsibility not only for your own safety, but also for the safety of tenants.  This unit will provide an opportunity for you to identify occupational health and safety hazards and assess and minimise risk.  The session will provide a practical framework for managing OHS risk.   Learn how to plan to overcome potential risks in the social housing context, including sole working, working out of the office, maintenance hazards, stress and the risk of violence, how to contribute to workplace consultations on OHS and knowing your rights on OHS.

Delivered:  June 2010
Duration:  4 weeks

Next delivery to be advised. Please click here to register your interest.

Social Housing:  The Big Picture - Work effectively in social housing CHCCH301A
This is a compulsory unit for the Certificate IV in Social Housing and is a pre-requisite for the Diploma of Social Housing.

The history, background, values and context of social housing are explored in this important session. This unit aims to provide participants with an overview of the social housing context, including the history of social and community housing, both nationally and state-wide, current issues facing the social and community housing sector, funding programs that source social housing, the philosophy underpinning the sector and the key peak bodies and government organisations involved in supporting and developing social housing.  This unit is a great induction for any workers new to the sector, including housing workers, executive officers and board members.  It is also invaluable as a professional refresher for workers who have been in the field for some time but would like the opportunity to look at social housing outside their own particular environment.
This unit is also available via face to face delivery.  Please click here for further information.

Commencement Date:  June / July 2010
Duration:  4 weeks

Next delivery to be advised. Please click here to register your interest.

Understanding Homelessness:  Work effectively with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness CHCCH427A
This is a compulsory unit for the Certificate IV in Social Housing AND is a pre-requisite for the Diploma of Social Housing.

The unit is designed for housing workers who work with people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness.  Participants will learn the causes and impact of homelessness, understand types and definitions of homelessness, and recognise other issues that may be present such as trauma, domestic violence and mental health issues.  The course aims to strengthen communication, and assessment skills whilst understanding the experience of homelessness from the homeless persons’ perspective.

Duration:  8 weeks
Next delivery to be advised. Please click here to register your interest.

Develop, implement and promote effective workplace communication CHCCOM504A– online pilot
This is a compulsory unit for the Diploma Social Housing and is part of the on-line pilot program for this qualification.

Do you think you know everything there is to know about communication? Think again! Poor communication is one of the most quoted reasons for workplace problems – it doesn’t matter how much training we do on communication skills there is always something more to learn. This course explores communication issues as a manager, where how you communicate with staff, clients and stakeholders is critical.

This unit describes the knowledge and skills required to apply higher level communication skills that underpin effective workplace operations.  The topics this unit covers are:
1.            Develop effective communication strategies for the organisation
2.            Represent the organisation to a range of groups
3.            Facilitate group discussion and work group interaction
4.            Use specific communication techniques to assist in resolving conflict
5.            Produce quality written materials
6.            Conduct interviews and formal discussions.

Duration:  10 weeks
Next delivery to be advised. Please click here to register your interest.

Reflect on and improve own professional practice CHCORG428A
This is a compulsory unit for the Diploma of Social Housing and was the first of the pilot program units to be delivered in September 2009.

Take a step back to reflect on and evaluate your work as a manager, your continuing self development and your effective supervision within an ethical code of practice.  The topics for this unit are:

• Reflect on own practice
• Ensure continuing self support and supervision
• Operate within an agreed code of ethics or practice

Duration:  10 weeks
Next delivery to be advised. Please click here to register your interest.

IT Requirements for E Learning – A Guide

The Employer Guide is essential reading for your executive staff and provides technical specifications to be able to participate in our courses online.

For information about technical requirements see: Community Housing e-learning employer guide
NSWFHA has been funded by the Australian Flexible Learning framework to help build the e-learning capability of the community housing industry nationally.  This project is introducing new learning technologies into the community housing workplace and provide strategies to support the uptake of learning.  We are using the Moodle online Learning Management System as the platform in NSW.

About the E Learning Diploma of Social Housing Project

Western Sydney Institute of Technology is the partner RTO who is designing the pilot program e-learning content and supporting the take up of technologies. The Diploma unit Develop, implement and promote effective workplace communication CHCOM504A was piloted throughout February and March 2010.  Reflect on and improve own professional practice CHCORG428A (also a Diploma level unit) was piloted last year and has been delivered again, commencing in February, as a 10 week program.  Maintain legal and ethical work practices CHCCS502A is currently being developed and will be delivered in May/June 2010 as detailed above under ‘Units coming up’.

For more background information about the project go to the flexible learning website 

For further information about pathways for completing the elective unit requirements of the Diploma of Social Housing please click here.

If you would like further information about any aspect our e-learning program please contact Ruth Djordjevic: ruth@communityhousing.org.au