The document discusses strategies to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation in the Australian health workforce. It outlines national and state frameworks and strategies, as well as barriers to training such as remoteness, cultural issues, and lack of support. Central Queensland University's programs for Aboriginal health qualifications are summarized, including tailored delivery methods, partnerships with Indigenous organizations, and plans for articulation to further studies. The university aims to address issues of access, cultural safety, and community engagement.

1. ‘Investing in what works’
Closing the gap- Supporting the future of Aboriginal/Torres Strait
Islander People in the health work force
‘We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on
which we work and learn, and pay respect to the First Nations
Peoples and their Elders, past, present and future.’
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised when viewing this
presentation that it may contain names, images, voices, and videos of people
who may have since passed away.

4. ‘Increasing the size of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
force is fundamental to closing the gap in Indigenous life expectancy’
(Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Working Group Annual Report 2015)

5. Indigenous Health workers are central to
Primary Health Care

6. • National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework
2016-2023 (prepared for the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC);
• Cultural Respect Framework 2016 – 2026 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Health prepared for the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) by the
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Standing Committee (NATSIHSC);
• •National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013 – 2023 and 2013 –
2023 Implementation Plan for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Health Plan;
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2017;
State and territory government Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce plans
• National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions (COAG Health Council, 2017).
• The Universities Australia Indigenous Strategy 2017-2020 (to substantially increase the
intake and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and graduates);
• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework (2015);
State and Territory strategies supporting workforce strategy include:

7. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Health Workforce Strategic Framework (2016‐2023)
Key Strategies
• Improve recruitment and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
professionals in clinical and non-clinical roles across all health disciplines
• Improve the skills and capacity of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce
in clinical and non-clinical roles across all health disciplines
• Health and related sectors be supported to provide culturally-safe and responsive
workplace environments for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce.
• Increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying for
qualifications in health.
• Improve completion/graduation and employment rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander health students.
• Improve information for health workforce planning and policy development.

8. Barriers to Training
• People often have difficulty accessing training and education
services to develop the necessary skills.
• A lack of appropriately identified and trained onsite
preceptors and/or mentors also appears to restrict and
inhibit the ongoing workplace education and training of
many remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
• Inadequate academic support and culturally unsafe training.
• Quality and consistency of Health worker training
• Large drop out rates due to all these barriers

9. Source: Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Health Performance Framework 2014. Table 3.20
,

10. ‘Although
the barriers
to higher
education
are well
understood,
programs
are rarely
designed to
address
them.’
Australian Health
Review, 2017,
41, 234–238

11. CQU delivery of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander
Primary Health Care Qualifications
CQU have and continue to develop
partnerships with Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander organisations
at local, regional and national level
in planning and implementing
activities to increase the number
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander students studying for
qualifications in Primary Health
Care and health related disciplines
For example we have done clinical placements with Bidgerdii
a Community Health Service in Rockhampton

12. Major issues identified during CQU Industry and
Community consultation
• Remoteness of students
• Lack of interest due to no exposure to courses
• Lack of internet or intermittent internet service /Access to computers
• Language, literacy and numeracy skills
• Cultural safety
• Irrelevant electives in the course
 Bad experiences with previous Registered Training Organisations
using a “tick and flick” approach to courses and not good quality
training and support
 Acceptance of educators
 Delivery contains no local content

13. Recommendations from Industry/Community
consultation
• Expose school students to VETis courses in Primary Health
Care
• Specific elective units that are relevant to industry/area of
work and location
• Interview students before enrolment acceptance
• Contextualise to suit students ways of learning
• Regular visits to keep retention of students
• Make resources in hard copy for students without internet
access
• The use of phone apps as these students should all have
phones
• Cluster Units where possible
• Be culturally aware and safe
• Have quality mentors in place

14. Central Queensland University has developed a program of study for the
Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care qualifications.
• Cert 11 Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Primary health Care-
To be done in schools when funding is released via VETiss.
CQU will put on scope when funding granted
•
• Cert 111 Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Primary health
Care Currently offered since 2015
•
• Cert IV Aboriginal/Torres Strait islander primary health Care
• ETA for enrolments April 2019
•
• Cert IV Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care
Practice – Currently in development for registration and
Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Practice Board accreditation
ETA for enrolments April 2019

15. CQU Delivery
• Specific elective units that are relevant to industry/area of work
and location
Units developed are requested from industry and align
with Close the gap initiatives
• Interview students before enrolment acceptance
Students will be interviewed to ensure commitment and
understanding of course requirements and support
available to them
• Make resources in hard copy for students without internet
access
Delivery will be mixed mode with face to face, online and hard copy
Learning guides and workbooks for students with unreliable internet
access

16. CQU Delivery
Be culturally safe, contextualise to suit students ways of
learning and and have quality mentors in place
These qualifications will be developed, delivered and reviewed by
Indigenous staff with support from non-Indigenous staff.
Opportunity for Staff in communities to be trained and employed by
CQU to assist in delivery and assessment. Train local staff.
• Cluster Units where possible
CQU has clustered relevant units for ease of delivery and student
learning
• Expose school students to VETis courses in Primary Health
Care
CQU plans to take Cert II PHC into schools when funding is released
• The use of phone apps as students should all have phones
CQU is currently liaising with digital services to look at app
development

17. CQU Staff
CQUniversity Office of Indigenous Engagement
(OIE)
‘We operate in a strong,
cultural, powerful and united
way, causing social disruption
through brave and
challenging conversations
and engagement, to inspire
new and innovative ways of
thinking and being.’’

18. The Indigenous Student Support Team

19. ‘Aboriginal Health Workers form a distinct professional group that brings
its own set of expertise and skills to a multidisciplinary health care team’
(Ridoutt, L., Pilbeam, V., & Lee, K. (2010). Aboriginal health worker profession review: Final report..
Darwin: Northern Territory Department of Health & Families

20. For students wishing to progress to other health
disciplines :
• CQU will offer articulation form Certificate III
Primary Health Care to Certificate IV Practice
through to Diploma of Nursing
• The plan for 2019/2020 is to develop
articulation with CQU from Cert IV PHC
Practice directly to the Bachelor of Nursing

22. The Future
Continuous quality improvement for course
• Regular engagement with industry/community to
ensure smooth running of courses
• Regular contact with students to support and
maximise successful outcomes
• Offer other qualifications as per industry/community
requests.

23. Looking to a healthier future

24. CQU Contacts
PHC Teacher
Name: Wendy Turner
Email: w.turner@cqu.edu.au
Business Development Enquiries
Name: Marzieh Nowrouz Tafreshi
Email: m.nowrouztafreshi@cqu.edu.au
University Enquiries
Call: 13 27 86
Or visit: https://www.cqu.edu.au/

25. References
• Alford K, 2015, A cost-effective approach to closing the gap in health, education and
employment: investing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nursing education, training
and employment, Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives
(CATSINaM), Canberra.
• Al-Natour, R., Fredericks, B., Bargallie, D., Marrie, H. and Bond, C. 2016. Great Guide to
Indigenisation of the Curriculum. Office of Indigenous Engagement, CQUniversity:
Rockhampton, Australia.
• Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet (2018) Overview of Australian Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander health status, 2017. Perth, WA: Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
• Australia Health Ministers Advisory Council. (2011, November). Health Workforce Strategic
Framework National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 2011–2015. Retrieved from Australia
Health Ministers Advisory Council:
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/workforce/aboriginal/Documents/natsihwsf-2011-2015.pdf
• Australian Government Department of Education and Training. (2012, July). Review of Higher
Education Access and Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People: Final Report.
Retrieved from Australian Government Department of Education and Training:
https://iher.education.gov.au/
• Australian Government. (2013, July). National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan
2013 - 2023. Retrieved from Closing the Gap:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/B92E980680486C3BCA257BF0001
BAF01/$File/health-plan.pdf

26. References
• Australian Government Department of Health and Aging. (2012). Retrieved from Aboriginal &
Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/Publishing.nsf/Content/F766FC3D8A697685CA257BF000
1C96E8/$File/hpf-2012.pdf
• Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. (2014, August). Indigenous
Jobs and Training Review. Retrieved from Australian Government Department of the Prime
Minister and Cabinet: https://www.pmc.gov.au/indigenous-affairs/employment/indigenous-jobs-
and-training-review
• Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council. (2017, February ). National Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Health force Strategic Framework. Retrieved from Australian Health Ministers
Advisory Council:
https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/4A716747859075FFCA257BF000
1C9608/$File/National-Aboriginal-and-Torres-Strait-Islander-Health-Workforce-Strategic-
Framework.pdf
• Bromfield, L., Higgins, J. R., Higgins, D., & Richardson, N. (2007, September). Why is there a
shortage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Carers? Retrieved from Australian Government
Australian Institute of Family Studies : https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/why-there-shortage-
aboriginal-and-torres-strait-isla
• Council of Australian Governments. (2009, July). COAG Meeting Communiqué, 2 July 2009.
Retrieved from Council of Australian Governments: http://www.coag.gov.au/meeting-
outcomes/coag-meeting-communiqu%C3%A9-2-july-2009

27. References
• Gwynne K, Lincoln M. Developing the rural health workforce to improve Australian aboriginal and Torres
Strait islander health outcomes: a systematic review. Aust Health Rev. 2017;41:234–8.
• Health Workforce Australia (2011). Growing our future: the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
worker project final report. Adelaide: Health Workforce Australia.
• Holland, C. (2015). Close the Gap . California: The Close the Gap Campaign Steering.
Workforce Development Strategy 2018-2010 Indigenous Allied Health Australia
• Hudson S: Charlatan training: how aboriginal health workers are being short-changed.
2012. http://www.cis.org.au/app/uploads/2015/07/pm127.pdf. Accessed 8 June 2017.
• Indigenous Allied Health Australia Workforce Development Strategy 2018 - 2020
• Mason, J. (2013, April). Review of Australian Government Health Workforce Programs. Retrieved from
Review of Australian Government Health Workforce Programs:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/D26858F4B68834EACA257BF0001A8DD
C/$File/Review%20of%20Health%20Workforce%20programs.pdf
• The Indigenous Nursing Education Working Group. 2002. ‘gettin em n keepin em’. Report to the
Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Health (OATSIH)

28. Acknowledgements
Thank you to friends and family in Yurruwi, North East Arnhem Land for
permission to use photos and video.
ABC television for use of Stateline Clip