Workforce Development
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce National Strategic Framework was endorsed in 2003 by the Commonwealth and State/Territory Governments. It presents a 5-10 year agenda to build a competent health workforce to address the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and comprises 42 Strategies clustered under 5 Objectives. . A copy of the Workforce Strategic Framework can be downloaded by clicking here.
Implementation occurs at both the national level, driven by a Working Group of the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Committee; and at State/Territory level, driven by Forums established under Aboriginal Health Framework Agreements .
A particularly significant implementation workload rests upon State and Territory Affiliates of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) which have been funded for Aboriginal Health workforce issues by the Commonwealth's Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH).
The AH&MRC, as NACCHO's NSW Affiliate, has been funded to develop a State Implementation Plan that addresses 18 of the 42 Strategies in the Workforce Strategic Framework. The progress of this project must be reported periodically to the Workforce Subcommittee of the NSW Aboriginal Health Forum, which includes representatives from OATSIH, AH&MRC, and the NSW Department of Health.
The AH&MRC’s proposed State Implementation Plan was endorsed by the Workforce Subcommittee in February 2004. Implementation was progressed for a number of specific Strategies and costed project proposals were developed in consultation with ACCHSs at General Meetings and Board Meetings, including:
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Development of a Directory of ACCHS primary health care services and an associated Workforce Profile (Information Management Plan: Phase 1). This project was rated as top priority by the Workforce Subcommittee and the NSW Aboriginal Health Forum in November/December 2004 and was referred to OATSIH in Canberra for immediate funding. This proposal refers to Strategy 13.
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Validation of new and emerging national competency standards for Aboriginal Health Workers. This is a national project managed by Community Services and Health Training Australia. This refers to Strategy 13.
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Development of a costed project proposal to provide training for one senior staff member in ACCHSs in Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and Training so that currently employed Aboriginal Health Workers can have their competencies and experiences assessed against the new national competency standards and targeted on the job development and off the job training can be cost-effectively provided. This proposal refers to the roll-out of Strategy 13 and to Strategy 15.
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Development of detailed specifications for a Diploma Course in Business (Management) and a Certificate IV in Frontline Management customized for the working environment of CEOs and Line Managers in ACCHSs. This proposal refers to Strategy 30. Funding is being sought through the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) and the Innovation and Business Skills Council.
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Development of an Industry Training Plan for Aboriginal Health Workers in NSW. This project proposal was developed with the Workforce Subcommittee and endorsed by the NSW Aboriginal Health Forum. This proposal refers to Strategy 16.
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Support to the preparation of compliance with the 12 ANTA standards required for accreditation of AH&MRC as a Registered Training Organisation. Accreditation was awarded by the State Training Authority, the Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board of NSW, in November 2004. This proposal refers to Strategy 16.
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Development of a costed project proposal to assess the feasibility of establishing a NSW Association of Aboriginal Health Workers. This proposal refers to Strategy 20.
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Development of a costed project proposal to assess the feasibility of establishing (professional) registration procedures for NSW Aboriginal Health Workers. This proposal refers to Strategy 19.
Aboriginal Health Worker Networks
The AH&MRC has long supported the formation and ongoing operations of several networks of Aboriginal health workers. In 2004, the AH& MRC assumed responsibility for coordination of the annual forums of both the Mental Health and Sexual Health worker networks. Each network brings together workers from the Aboriginal community controlled sector and the government sector.
One of the Strategies identified in the National Strategic Framework is the creation of state-based Association of Aboriginal Health Workers. The AH&MRC will contribute to discussions about the possible formation of such an Association. In addition, the AH&MRC can contribute to meeting the professional development needs of Aboriginal health workers by further expansion of its education services and learning programs through the Aboriginal Health College
The Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal is the only national publication written by indigenous health workers for indigenous health workers. The Journal is distributed nationally and internationally and has been in circulation since 1977. It is published six times a year and has broad range of readership. Each issue covers a range of topics including primary health care, community profiles, health promotion, best practice models and workforce issues.
Recruitment of General Practitioners
AH&MRC assists member ACCHSs with recruitment of General Practitioners (GPs). We were able to provide support to Condobolin Aboriginal Health Service in their successful recruitment of their first ever GP.
Overseas Trained Doctors
Overseas Trained Doctors represent a significant number of the GPs employed in member ACCHSs and approximately 25 per cent of all GPs working in Australia. Even though the Australian and State Governments are now (2006) putting more money into university education for doctors and into alternatives to doctors -such as Nurse Practitioners – Australia will continue to rely very heavily on OTDs for at least the next 15 years or more.
The health needs of Aboriginal clients, families and communities cannot wait while governments fix up their failure to invest properly in medical education and training
The AH&MRC is raising the profile of ACCHSs as an employment destination for OTDs considering assignments in Australia, and our focus is on GPs from OECD economies in Europe and North America (Canada)
As a first step, we have prepared a comprehensive briefing on the current situation regarding recruitment of OTDs from the perspective of an ACCHS and the perspective of an OTD. We hope that this briefing information will be of value both to our member organisations and to potential OTDs
Click here for more information
As a second step, AH&MRC established direct contact with the national GP organisations of Germany and The Netherlands in August 2005. This direct approach resulted in the publication of an article in the GP Journal in Germany in December 2005 that attracted more than 80 inquiries from a range of medical and health professionals, including many GPs.
Follow up contacts are planned for August-September 2006.
Cooperation with Affiliates and Workforce Agencies
AH&MRC has established cooperation on recruitment of OTDs with equivalent Affiliates in Queensland and WA – the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) and the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA).
ACCHSs that want to recruit OTDs will continue to use the expertise of the recognised Workforce Agencies which specialise in recruitment of OTDs for logistical and administrative requirements. The three Workforce Agencies who are already working closely with the three Affiliates are:
Rural Doctors Network of NSW [www.nswrdn.com.au]
Health Workforce Queensland [www.healthworkforce.com.au]
Western Australian Centre for Rural and Remote Medicine [www.wacrrm.uwa.edu.au]