“It Speaks for Itself”: Why Ballarat Community Health chose SSI’s Diversity Training

When Jess Shelton joined Ballarat Community Health (BCH) two years ago, she inherited an existing cultural training module – one that wasn’t hitting the mark.  

“It was long, wordy and not engaging. Out of the 250 staff we assigned it to, only 20 completed it in two years,” Jess said.  

Determined to find something that would be truly meaningful, Jess went searching. A simple Google search led her to SSI’s Diversity Training, and it changed everything.  

“As soon as I tried the free module sample, I knew this was different. It was interactive, relevant, and most importantly it’s tailored to healthcare,” she said.  

Since switching to SSI’s training, the shift has been immediate and measurable. In just two weeks, 40 staff members had completed the training – double the number who had done the previous course over two years.  

Training that connects with people and practice  

Ballarat Community Health provides inclusive, bulk-billed health services to people in the Ballarat region, many from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Their staff need more than a surface-level understanding of inclusion. They need depth, empathy and cultural insight.  

“We needed something more than a tick-box exercise,” Jess explained. “Our community is diverse, and so are the challenges people face when it comes to accessing healthcare. To respond to that, our staff need real training that speaks to lived experiences and systemic barriers.”  

What stood out most about SSI’s training was its interactivity, sector-specific content and human focus. Jess also praised the learning design, which delivers high-impact education in a short timeframe, a key factor in a busy healthcare environment.  

“The training is only 30 minutes, but it’s packed with depth. It’s bright, engaging and speaks to real scenarios our staff deal with every day.”  

Making real change. Not just completing a module  

The impact of the training at BCH isn’t limited to completion rates. It’s directly influencing organisational culture and planning.  

“I’m currently rewriting our Diversity and Inclusion Plan and I’ve pulled directly from the training to shape our goals,” Jess said.  

Inspired by SSI’s approach, BCH is embedding principles like inclusive language, personalised care and accessibility into its internal frameworks. Even staff who technically didn’t need to complete the training have asked to take part. A sign, Jess said, that the training resonates on a deeper level.  

“That’s when you know you’ve got something special. When staff go out of their way to say, ‘Can I do this too?’”  

A Stronger, Safer Workplace for All  

For BCH, diversity training isn’t a one-off requirement, it’s part of creating safer spaces for people from all backgrounds.  

“We work with communities that experience disadvantage and health inequity,” Jess said. “To offer real support, we need to understand people, their backgrounds, barriers, and the diversity within communities.”  

SSI’s training helps organisations do just that. It’s grounded in inclusivity, relevance and practical application, not just theory.  

“You can get free training elsewhere, but it won’t have the same impact. This was affordable and actually helped us change how we think and work.”  

The Bottom Line? It Works.  

SSI’s Diversity Training is more than education. It’s a catalyst for cultural change and organisations like Ballarat Community Health are seeing the difference.  

“It speaks for itself. It’s already changing how we operate, and we’re just getting started,” Jess said.  

To see how SSI Diversity Training can work for your organisation get in touch today at diversitytraining@ssi.org.au or call us on 02 8799 6700