COVID-19 training powerful boost for Birrelee Aboriginal Children’s Service

The Federal Department of Health has created free online COVID-19 infection control training, designed to support those who care for others to remain on top of current and relevant information to keep care recipients, staff and visitors safe.

Recently Rachael Phillips, Manager of Birrelee Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Service – a long day care centre in Tamworth, New South Wales, shared how the training has supported her staff team to manage the complex changes brought about by the pandemic.

Biralee’s staff, she said, are feeling more confident and able to carry out the centre’s policies to keep everyone safe, after completing the training online via mobile phone in a quick fashion.

“We have to stay up to date with all the changes coming through. Which is a lot when you’re in childcare during COVID-19,” Rachael said.

“There’s so much online – a lot that’s wrong – and some panic and fear. But once we did the infection control training, we were more at ease about why we have certain processes and how to protect ourselves.”

Following the training, the team felt more equipped to correct misinformation for some families, answer their questions and back up policies already in place to manage the pandemic.

“We already knew to be diligent, and that this was serious. But we always familiarise ourselves with as much information as possible and the training busted a lot of myths for us,” she added.

Given their roles in working directly with children and families, the Birrelee team appreciated that access to the information “wasn’t overwhelming,” describing the course as “factual, easy to navigate and sufficient.”

“The children at our centre are all Aboriginal and 8 of our 13 staff are Aboriginal. We do everything we can to protect our community. We’re now better able to talk about and take actions for everyone’s safety,” Ms Phillips said in closing.

To access the training, or to learn more, please see here.