Virtual World Interview Skills Training: Working with the Avatar

In training to become an Allied Health professional, there are a number of crucial skills which must be developed. Two of these are: (1) knowing how to conduct clinical interviews and assessments, and (2) knowing when to refer to another health provider. Ideally, these skills will be developed throughout a student's education and in their clinical placements. In 2011-2012, researchers from the University of Canberra partnered with the University of Sydney to develop and present virtual world interviewing skills training for students in Psychology, Physiotherapy, and Health Sciences, respectively. The research phase included contributors from the Australian National University and Simmersion Holdings Pty Ltd, who together developed a number of 'virtual world' scenarios, providing case studies addressing psychological and physical presentations. In 2013, the University of Canberra team secured additional funding to further develop the project and analyse the data from the University of Canberra study.