Developing core interprofessional competencies for community rehabilitation practitioners: findings from an Australian study.

This study aimed to determine the core competencies that underpin the practice of community rehabilitation (CR) practitioners working in a single state in Australia. Using a recursive and consultative methodology designed to build consensus, CR professionals, trainers, educators, and researchers developed a preliminary set of core interprofessional competencies that were considered essential to their practice. Data were collected in four main stages that engaged practitioners and experts in the CR field in the process of identifying, defining, validating, and endorsing a set of competencies. The first stage involved focus groups with 50 senior practitioners in metropolitan, rural/remote, regional, and indigenous communities. The second and third stages involved expert panels consisting of 20 trainers/educators, senior leaders, and scholars who refined, defined and validated the competency areas and developed statements that reflected the data.These statements formed the basis of a survey that was distributed to all current CR practitioners based in this state for endorsement, 40 of whom responded. Ten competencies emerged from this process. Although there are limitations to the application of competencies, they will have significant implications for the future training of CR practitioners who can transcend professional boundaries.

Living with brain injury in the community: outcomes from a community-based self-management support (CB-SMS) programme in Australia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of a community-based self-management support (CB-SMS) programme for people with acquired brain injury delivered across multiple communities in Queensland, Australia. DESIGN: A longitudinal study. PARTICIPANTS: A prospective cohort of 52 individuals with brain injury aged between 21-75 years of age (M = 47.29 years, SD = 15.40) participated in the study. The impact of the programme was measured on three separate occasions using the same questionnaire (at programme commencement-Time 1; 3 months post-programme completion-Time 2; and 6 months post-programme completion-Time 3). MEASURES: The questionnaire measured demographic details, general health, emotional health, goal commitment, ability to manage illness, information use and perceived social support. RESULTS: Significant effects were found in the ability to manage one's long-term condition, goal commitment and emotional health, however these findings were sensitive to gender differences over time. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study partially support the role of the programme in promoting the development of personal resources following brain injury. However, the findings remind one that without monitoring and maintenance over time, any gains made are unlikely to be sustained. Further, the need for programmes to respond to gender differences is highlighted by this study.