All Ireland Traveller Health Study Our Geels - Department of Health ...

Health Survey Findings
Peer Researchers, Coordinators and Fieldwork Training
Pavee Point identified that 40+ Primary Healthcare for Traveller Projects, which included approx 320
TCHWs and 40 project coordinators who had received training in basic research methods, would be
available to the study as enumerators. All enumerators were trained to a standardised level. This had
many advantages over using enumerators from outside the Traveller community (e.g. Local Authority
Social Workers or Housing Welfare Officers), both in terms of their acceptability to Travellers, and also
their local knowledge of where Travellers lived in the region.
The training for the study was delivered by the UCD team as a Trainer’s Training Course to coordinators
and assistant coordinators of the projects, who in turn provided that training to the TCHWs in their
teams. The PHCTP coordinators coordinated the work of their PHCTP teams locally and also acted
as the key link and resource to the study team. In areas where there were no PHCTPs the regional
networks covered the area with CHWs who had contact in these areas. Where this was not possible and
while conducting the census in the regions they made contact with key informants, i.e. other Traveller
organisations or projects, visiting teachers, PHNs and Traveller Training Centres.
The initial coordinators targeted were the existing coordinators in the Primary Healthcare for
Traveller Projects; these projects normally have two coordinators in place, one representing the HSE
perspective (PHN or RGN) and one representing the Traveller organisation perspective (Community
Development Worker). At the beginning of the study there were 40 of these projects in the country
and approximately an additional 6 Projects in development as PHCTPs. Some of the projects were
supported by the local THU to facilitate their participation in the study.
In areas of the country where there was no PHCTP, the study team worked with co-ordinators identified
through Traveller organisations/Traveller Community Development Projects (CDPs). Where there
was an identifiable Traveller organisation, Traveller Training Centres were used (of which there were
approximately 40 in ROI). Where there was an absence of all these Traveller structures, community
development organisations were used (e.g. external employment of some of the Community
Development workers in the North Eastern region).
The coordinators were facilitated by their employers in the HSE, FAS, Traveller Training Centres,
Community Development Projects and Traveller organisations to attend the training days. The training
costs, travel and accommodation were funded by the UCD study team.
85 coordinators and assistant coordinators were trained to act as study coordinators and trainers in
Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. These study coordinators and trainers then trained 400
Travellers at local level to act as Peer Researchers for the study.
Six training days were held with study co-ordinators extending from 12th March to 9th September,
2008. The training was iterative and linked to the development of the study instruments and protocols.
Each session was evaluated and feedback used to inform further training. Time was allowed between
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