Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Professionals

The Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health workforce make a vital contribution to health care in Australia in both specialised service delivery and in a wide range of mainstream health care roles [28890]. Their roles may include enhancing the amount and quality of clinical services provided to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients, facilitating communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, and practicing administration and management [2661].

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners play an important role in reducing anxiety and improving the quality of communication for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients through cultural brokerage. They assist general practitioners (GPs) to better understand and respond to clients’ concerns, and help clients to better understand their illness and treatment. To learn more about this profession from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners click here.

The National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP) is the health profession association and peak body for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners. NAATSIHWAP supports, promotes and gains recognition for the role of the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners workforce.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Liaison Officers depending upon the requirements of a hospital or jurisdiction be required to have a minimum Certificate III in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care. Their workplace may not require qualifications and registrations but they may be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker or Health Practitioner, working in the hospital setting.

To learn more about the unique and varied Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander professions click here.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia has published two downloadable brochures highlighting the role and contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners to the Australian health care system and to closing the health gap. The Cultural Safety for Health Professionals portal has the 16 allied health practitioner boards supported by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).

Ahpra has published Mandatory notifications: What you need to know, in relation to COVID-19, this also includes a range of resources. Ahpra and National Boards have established a short-term pandemic response sub-register to help with fast tracking the return to the workforce of experienced and qualified health practitioners as a result of COVID-19.