Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners 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 practice 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 Torres Strait Islander health workforce.

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 Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (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.