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SHORT COURSE

Co-Creating Safe and Enjoyable Meals for People with Swallowing Disability

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$ 395.00

START DATE

 03 March

MODE

 Online

DURATION

 1 day
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Maintaining the safety of people with swallowing disability can be a challenge during mealtimes. This short course from UTS Open will prepare you to deliver safe eating experiences through the use of texture-modified foods, mealtime positioning and assistive mealtime technologies.

About this course

This course outlines the vital role of safe and effective mealtime assistance for people with swallowing difficulties. Aimed at disability support workers and other carers involved in meal preparation, it empowers participants to take a person-centred approach to mealtime support through the use of novel approaches and techniques.

Course content was developed by a consortium of disability sector professionals and lived experience experts, ensuring everything you learn has real-world application.

During the course you’ll learn to:

  • Identify signs of swallowing disability
  • Respond to coughing and choking
  • Understand referral pathways
  • Explore techniques for creating texture modified food and menu planning
  • Become familiar with mealtime positioning and the use of assistive technologies.

Key benefits of this course

This course has been designed to help to increase the competence and confidence of people who support people with swallowing disability to access safe and enjoyable meals. It was designed with a multidisciplinary panel of experts including people with swallowing disability, support workers, self-advocacy groups, and allied health professionals.

The course is unique in taking a person-centred approach and utilising active learning principles designed to immerse you in situations encountered on an everyday basis where mealtime safety is important. There are several learning resources available to support people to implement the strategies into the future, including a Learner Workbook, Additional Resources and a Cook’s Companion.

 

Digital badge and certificate

A digital badge and certificate will be awarded following the successful completion of any necessary tasks or assessments to demonstrate acquired learning of the short course or for meeting attendance and/or participation requirements.

Learn more about UTS Open digital badges.

Price

Full price: $395 (GST-free)*

*Price subject to change. Please check price at time of purchase.

Discounts are available for this course. For further details and to verify if you qualify, please check the Discounts section under Additional course information.

Enrolment conditions

Course purchase is subject to UTS Open Terms and Conditions. 

COVID-19 response 

UTS complies with latest Government health advice. Delivery of all courses complies with the UTS response to COVID-19.

Additional course information 

Course outline

Learners can expect to engage with the learning materials online before class, and then use those materials in the one-day workshop. As well as having mini-talks relating to the content, learners will be immersed in authentic scenarios and simulations, through the use of video, animation, and graphics in active learning experiences. Small and large group discussions, and the opportunity to practice how to respond in different scenarios and situations about mealtime difficulties are included. This is an active learning workshop so come prepared to:

  • Participate in answering discussion points,
  • Share your insights and experiences,
  • Develop a strong awareness of barriers and facilitators to safe and enjoyable meals,
  • Consider foods, recipes and texture-modification techniques, and
  • Reflect upon how to respond in different mealtime situations.

The workshop is an enjoyable and enriching learning experience, as all present learn from and with the trainers and peers in the class. The four modules all have breaks to enable you to have food and drink refreshments, in which you will also reflect upon the acts of eating and drinking and the cultural aspects of meals.

Course learning objectives

On successful completion of this course, learners will know how to:

  • Provide safe and effective mealtime assistance
  • Understand the importance of oral care in relation to mealtime safety
  • Know the signs and symptoms of swallowing difficulty and how to respond
  • Know about the many team members involved in mealtime management and how to refer
  • Create nutritious and attractive texture-modified foods
  • Include the person with disability in mealtime decisions
  • Support positioning and access to assistive technologies.

Requirements

To complete this online course, you will need a personal computer with adequate internet access and sufficient software and bandwidth to support web conferencing. You will also require an operating system with a web browser compatible with Canvas, Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

You will also need a camera and microphone enabled computer to communicate with the teacher and class members.

Discounts

Discounts are available for this course as follows:

  • 10% discount for UTS alumni
  • 10% group discount for 3 or more enrolments
  • 15% discount for Australian Retirement Trust members

Discounts cannot be combined and only one discount can be applied per person per course session. Discounts can only be applied to the full price. Discounts cannot be applied to any offered special price. 

How to obtain your discount voucher code

  • If you are eligible for any of the external discounts, you will need to obtain prior approval from Course Coordinator, Bronwyn Hemsley at Bronwyn.Hemsley@uts.edu.au, in order to receive a discount voucher code to use for registration
  • For UTS Alumni - please contact the team at support@open.uts.edu.au with your student number to obtain your discount voucher code.

How to apply your discount voucher 

  • If you are eligible for a UTS alumni discount, please ensure you have provided your UTS student number during checkout. If you have forgotten your UTS student number, email support@open.uts.edu.au with your full name, UTS degree and year of commencement.  
  • Add this course to your cart 
  • Click on "View Cart" (blue shopping trolley at top right of screen). You will need to sign in or sign up to UTS Open 
  • Enter your eligible code beneath the "Have a voucher code?" prompt and click on the blue "Apply" button 
  • Verify your voucher code has been successfully applied before clicking on the blue "Checkout" button. 

Contact us

For any questions on enrolment or payment, please email support@open.uts.edu.au  

If you have a specific question on course content or requirements, please email Bronwyn.Hemsley@uts.edu.au

Who is this course for?

This short course is suitable for anyone with an interest in mealtime assistance for people with swallowing difficulty. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Direct support workers
  • Allied health professionals
  • Speech pathologists
  • Dietitians
  • Occupational therapists
  • Managers of health and disability services
  • Learning and teaching personnel in disability services
  • Family members
  • People with swallowing disability.

 

Book a session

Mon 03 Mar 2025
  • UTS – Venue TBC
  • Online
$ 395.00

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Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.

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