Purpose
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce National Strategic Framework aims to provide a basis for the transformation and consolidation of ‘the workforce in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health to achieve a competent health workforce with appropriate clinical, management, community development and cultural skills to address the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples supported by appropriate training, supply, recruitment and retention strategies’ (Framework, 2002, 3).
Key Objectives and Principles
The Framework contains the following five key objectives, which are to be met via a range of strategies:
‘Increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working across all the health professions;
Improve the clarity of roles, regulation and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers as a key component of the health workforce, and improve vocational education and training sector support for training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers;
Address the role and development needs of other health workforce groups contributing to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health;
Improve the effectiveness of training, recruitment and retention measures targeting both non-Indigenous Australian and Indigenous Australian health staff working within Aboriginal primary health services; and
Include clear accountability for government programs to quantify and achieve these objectives and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and people to drive the process.’
The Framework is based on the nine principles outlined in the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health:
cultural respect;
a holistic approach;
health sector responsibility;
community control of primary health care services;
working together;
localised decision making;
promoting good health;
building the capacity of health services and communities; and
accountability.
The Framework is designed to be incorporated into the broader National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health which was yet to be endorsed at that time. Implementation of the Framework is to be overseen by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council out by the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council, in collaboration between state, territory and Commonwealth government and non government bodies.
Implementation
The Framework is designed to be incorporated into the broader National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health which was yet to be endorsed at that time. Implementation of the Framework is to be overseen by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council.
On a national level, the Framework will be implemented by the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council Aboriginal Health Workforce Working Group. This group will comprise members from:
Australian Health Workforce Officials Committee (AHWOC);
AHMAC Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (SCATSICH);
Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training; and,
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO).
On a state/territory level, the Framework will be auspiced by the State and Territory Health Forums established under the Framework Agreement operating in each state and territory.
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