May 2008

Ambos take on migrant training

The Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS) has become the first emergency service in Australia to gain accreditation for formal training through the Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES).

MAS undertook research to assess how well migrants understood ambulance services in Melbourne.

The aim was to identify issues that could negatively affect access to ambulance services.

The research was undertaken because anecdotal evidence indicated that people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds arrived in Australia with a very poor understanding of the ambulance services provided in Victoria.

The research highlighted a number of important issues for MAS, including the fact that many of those consulted had very little awareness of both MAS as an entity and its role.

‘We are aware that the perceptions people have of ambulance may vary according to their culture,’ said MAS Chief Executive Officer Greg Sassella.

‘In some cases, a uniform is seen as a threat, while others believe ambulances are only there to transport the dead.’

This posed a significant challenge for MAS and, in response, a two-part education resource was developed.

The resource packages are for level one beginners—A Day in the Life of a Paramedic—and level two intermediate—The Ambulance Service and You.

The packages were designed to achieve several aims and include ‘models’ such as Alber Ayouz—who appeared in the packages’ booklets, posters and DVDs.

They teach migrants when to call an ambulance and how to use ambulance resources appropriately, including dialling 000.

They also include basic first aid and the 4 Steps for Life program.

At the same time, the package teaches English skills that are useful in everyday life, such as reading, writing and creating sentences.

‘It took about nine months to develop this communications package, ready for dissemination to teachers of new arrivals to Australia,’ said MAS Community Education Department Manager Helen Neely.

‘It provides a great foundation for the future where MAS will work hand in hand with organisations such as AMES to help CALD communities.’

‘This project is an example of how important and practical information can be shared with our clients in an appropriate and efficient way,’ said AMES CEO Ian McHutchison.

‘The partnership with AMES is ongoing and we are looking forward to creating more projects in the future,’ said Ms Neely.

‘This is a partnership that will surely result in lives being saved,’ Mr Sassella said.

‘The Adult Migrant English Program educates more than 11,000 migrants a year in

Victoria and many of these migrants take what they have learnt and pass it on to other family members.’