ASQ-TRAK
Child health experts recognise internationally that developmental care is vital to improve long-term health and well being outcomes. A key challenge to the provision of quality developmental care in Aboriginal communities has been the absence of culturally appropriate, structured developmental screening tools.
Dr Anita D’Aprano, Developmental Paediatrician and Senior Research Fellow in Indigenous Child Health, the University of Melbourne.
The ASQ-TRAK is a developmental screening tool for observing and monitoring the developmental progress of Australian Aboriginal1 children at 2 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 36 months and 48 months of age.
It is based on seven questionnaires from the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®, 3rd edition – the ASQ®-3 2 – which were adapted to create a more culturally appropriate version of the tool for Aboriginal children. More information about the ASQ®-3 is available on our FAQ page.
The ASQ-TRAK is an easy-to-use, family centered tool which highlights a child’s strengths as well as catching delays early. It is designed to be administered by interview, making caregivers co-observers in the process while teaching them about child development and their own child’s skills.
1. Where the term ‘Aboriginal’ is used it refers to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
2. Squires, Twombly, Bricker & Potter, 2009
The Unit for Indigenous Child Development Measures (the Unit) includes activities focused on the research, development, training and implementation of culturally appropriate development measures for Australian Aboriginal children.
We used to use another tool which was less informative. Whereas the ASQ-TRAK has been adapted and is structured appropriately for our Indigenous Australian people.
The ASQ-TRAK helps early intervention to support our children’s development; and leads to improved school outcomes for our future generations. Better health outcomes for better educational outcomes – closing the gap. It is greatly accepted and we have been waiting for something like this for a really long time.
Raelene Brunette, Aboriginal Health Practitioner, Sunrise Health Service
Want to know more? Watch a video about developing the ASQ-TRAK
This training was so fantastic and allowed us to have really important conversations about how to use this tool in a way that is culturally safe and respectful. It was also great yarning about Aboriginal risk and resilience factors as this is really useful and relevant to the work I do in community.
Adrienne Lipscomb, Senior Facilitator (Learning & Development) and Senior Practitioner (Aboriginal Children’s Healing Team), Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency.
ASQ-TRAK Practitioner Training
The ASQ-TRAK is unique and user training is strongly recommended. A customised training program was developed alongside the adaption of the ASQ-3, based on adult learning theories and recommendations from the literature regarding culturally appropriate professional development methods. Administering the ASQ-TRAK without training increases the risk that the ASQ-TRAK will be used in culturally unsafe ways.
The University of Melbourne delivers ASQ-TRAK Practitioner Training nationally for staff groups in the workplace.
The ASQ-TRAK Training workshop has been:
- developed from culturally appropriate professional learning methods.
- shown to improve practitioners' skills, knowledge, competence, and confidence to identify and manage developmental difficulties and promote child development.*
Upon completion of ASQ-TRAK Training, participants are recognised as Certified ASQ-TRAK Practitioners. Certification includes access to further online resources and a Community of Practice to maintain knowledge currency.
ASQ-TRAK Facilitator Training (currently unavailable)
The ASQ TRAK Training Framework is entering a new phase of development with support from the University of the Melbourne. To ensure its quality and sustainability, we are undertaking a review of the Train-the-trainer Framework and we are not able to offer Facilitator Training until the re-design is complete. Our aim remains maintaining the highest level of quality for participants, trainers and ultimately Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids and families. If there are any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
How do I know which training is right for me?
There are different pathways for individuals based on the role they have within their organisation. The ASQ-TRAK training pathway map links training options to the desired practice outcome of an individual.
* To complete ASQ-TRAK Facilitator training an individual must be a Certified ASQ-TRAK Practitioner.
We receive a lot of questions about the ASQ-TRAK developmental screening tool, ASQ-TRAK training and our research. We add to the FAQs regularly but if you can't find an answer to your question or would like further information please get in touch on the Contact Us page.
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Get in touch
If you want to find out more about the ASQ-TRAK developmental screening tool, ASQ-TRAK Training, or our research programs you can contact us by filling out the form.
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Buy Now
You can buy the ASQ-TRAK developmental screening tool and the ASQ-TRAK Toy Kit from the RCH Shop at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne.
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