Topic 20: Aboriginal health workforce, roles and assistance

Connection with curriculum

This topic relates to the concept: Indigenous health  

Analyse the contemporary role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals, organisations, and communities in delivering culturally safe healthcare to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients in Intensive Care Medicine.

Introduction

The Aboriginal Health workforce plays an important role in improving health outcomes for their communities.  This topic assists you in understanding the roles and strengths of the Aboriginal Health workforce. 

Select each heading to read more. 

ACCHSs have established a significant role in the effective delivery of Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) services to Aboriginal people within Australia.  Aboriginal Community Control is the empowerment of a community through the adoption of appropriate organisational structures which enable all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the local community with the opportunity to be represented as members and to be involved in the decision-making process. An Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) is an incorporated Aboriginal organisation initiated by and based in a local Aboriginal community. They deliver holistic and culturally appropriate health services to the community.

An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who has gained a Certificate II (or higher) qualification in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners, n.d.). 

An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who has gained a qualification in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice and has registration with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) (National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners, n.d.). 

Depending on their scope of practice and workplace, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners may have a number of roles and responsibilities, including providing clinical services, health promotion activities, supporting clients in self-management, cultural navigation, and management activities (National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners, n.d.).

Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers can provide support and education for patients and their families and have a key role in patient advocacy. They may also act as an intermediary between healthcare staff and patients/ families and can contribute to enhancing the cultural competence of healthcare workers (Grant & Draper, 2018). Depending on the hospital and jurisdiction, AHLO’s may or may not have qualifications in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health (National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners, n.d.).

There are over 150 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages spoken (Australian Bureau of Statistics, n.d.). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interpreters play a vital role in contributing to equitable healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through facilitating good communication. Services such as the Aboriginal Interpreter Service (AIS) in the Northern Territory can be used to engage an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander interpreter. Many services such as this are available throughout Australia.

Traditional healers 

Traditional healers and bush medicines have been part of Indigenous cultures for thousands of years and continue to be a part of these cultures today, although practice varies widely between communities in Australia (Oliver, 2013). 

Ngangkari are the traditional healers from the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara (NPY) lands in Central Australia who provides care for physical and emotional health (Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council 2023). Benefits of the provision of Ngangkari services may include providing a holistic two-way health care model which respects traditional knowledge as part of the health care system, fostering Aboriginal patients’ access to mainstream health services, building community trust, increasing cost-effectiveness in health care provision, delivering culturally appropriate health care, reducing the incidence of misdiagnosis and broadening treatment options (Panzironi, 2013). Health services such as the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network have introduced Ngangkari services in parallel to Western medicine (SA Health, 2023). 

The Aṉangu Ngangkaṟi Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation (ANTAC) was founded in 2013 and is the first organisation of traditional healers in Australia. This organisation provides Aboriginal traditional medicine hand in hand with Western medicine and supports the maintenance and practice of Aboriginal medical knowledge (Aṉangu Ngangkaṟi Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation, n.d.). ANTAC works with various service providers, including hospitals and rural clinics.  

Chat with your hospital’s Aboriginal Liaison Workers, Aboriginal Health Workers or with Indigenous Elders regarding traditional healers for patient care. They may be able to help and provide advice. 


Activities to facilitate learning

The following activities will enhance your learning on this topic.

Watch

  1. Review this short video which includes ALO Linda Bray discussing her role as both an ALO and an Aboriginal interpreter.

  2. Watch this short video on being Ngangkari

  3. Watch this short video about Ngangkari and what non-Indigenous doctors should know about Ngangkari

Additional recommended resources
  1. Read the article by Taylor et al. (2009) on the impact of Aboriginal Health Workers on Aboriginal experiences.
  2. Explore the NAACHO website
  3. Explore the information on the Australian Indigenous Health InfoNet
  4. Read more about the traditional healers in the mainstream health system
  5. Find out more about Ngangkari in this video

Reflect on your learning

Select the image to answer the reflection question for this topic.

Last modified: Wednesday, 27 September 2023, 5:04 PM