Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Health Worker - Career Advice - Community and Health

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers assist with the coordination and provision of health care delivery to Indigenous communities.Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander health workers provide clinical and primary health care for individuals, families and community groups. Future Growth Static

They provide clinical and primary health care for individuals, families and community groups including specialty areas of drug and alcohol, mental health, diabetes and eye and ear health. Their common objective is to assist the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to take a strong role in controlling and managing their own health and lifestyles.

They deal with patients, clients and visitors to hospitals and health clinics, and assist with arranging, coordinating and providing health care in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community health clinics. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers liaise between health care professionals and Indigenous patients to improve the quality of services provided and health outcomes for those patients. They help to bridge the cultural differences that can exist in healthcare settings, by acting as an interpreter to ensure both the healthcare professional and the Indigenous patient understand each other. These workers may also provide counselling and/or treatment for physical diseases or injuries. They may also make house visits to monitor patient progress, and provide support to patients and their families to encourage them to learn more about health issues.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health workers provide assist with providing and arranging health care for individuals and families in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities, and teach people about behaviours that promote wellness. They develop and implement strategies to improve the health of individuals and communities.

ANZSCO ID: 4115

Alternative names: Indigenous Health Worker, Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner, ATSI Health Worker,

Specialisations: Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander health workers may choose to specialise in particular health areas such as optical, hearing, women's health or infant care.

Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Hospital Liaison - provides support and assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and families in hospitals and other healthcare facilities to help them feel comfortable and safe during their treatment. They help patients communicate with healthcare professionals, government agencies and other staff while they are in hospital.

Knowledge, skills and attributes

good communication and negotiation skills
good organisational skills
cultural awareness and sensitivity
able to work independently and as part of a team
a service orientation, actively looking for ways to help people

ATSI Health Worker
(Source: CareerHQ)

Duties and Tasks

advise clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health, such as diet or exercise
maintaining health records and statistics - maintain updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information
treat diseases or injuries
refer community members to needed health services
act as a communicator and/or interpreter on behalf of clients and other health workers
distribute flyers, brochures, or other informational or educational documents to inform members of a targeted community
take part in case management and follow-up, independently or with other healthcare providers
contribute to the planning, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all health programmes in the community
carry out administrative duties, including budgeting and correspondence
acting as an advocate in the community they serve
providing clinical functions, such as case management and follow-up, independently or in consultation with other health care providers
providing health education to individual clients and staff in health facilities
providing cultural education to persons outside the cultural community and life skills education to the community they serve
providing counselling and referring clients to other health care providers where necessary
attend community meetings or forums to understand community issues or build relationships with community members
collect data and discuss health concerns with members of specific populations or communities.

Working conditions

These workers are often the first point of call for patients attending Aboriginal medical services located throughout Australia. As a result, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers may be required to work in remote communities or in metropolitan areas. This may require travelling long distances, as well as working shift work and weekends.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health workers generally work full time, although part time positions may be available. They may be required to work shifts or travel long distances to visit remote communities.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health workers may work in hospitals, health clinics or other health services in metropolitan areas or in remote communities. They usually work in teams with doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Health Check
(Source: Choose Your Own Health Career)

Tools and technologies

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers are expected to be able to apply first aid in an emergency and should be able to use appropriate first aid equipment.

Education and training/entrance requirements

You usually need a certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care to work as an Indigenous Health Worker. To become an Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander health worker you usually have to complete a VOC qualification in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander primary health care or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander primary health care practice. You may be able to study through distance education.

You can also become an Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander health worker through a traineeship in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice. The Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health care worker (level 3) and (level 4) traineeships usually take 12 and 24 months to complete. The Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health care worker (level 2) traineeship takes 12 months to complete is available as a school-based traineeship.

Additional Information

Applicants must be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.

In order to use the title Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner, Aboriginal health practitioner or Torres Strait Islander health practitioner, you need to register with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia.

Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander health workers who are not required by their employer to use one of these titles do not need to register with the board

Baby Health Worker
(Source: Indigenous Govt)

Employment Opportunities

Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander health workers are employed in hospitals, health clinics and other health services in metropolitan and rural areas. They work in teams with doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Employment opportunities for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health workers rose slightly in the past five years. Looking forward, employment for indigenous health workers is expected to grow strongly.

This is a very small occupation, so opportunities may be quite limited in some regions.

With experience, and sometimes further training, Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander health workers may take on management responsibilities.

Did You Know?

ABS: Census 2016
The first results of the 2016 Census of Population and Housing, released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today, show that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples represented 2.8 per cent of the population counted in the 2016 Census – up from 2.5 per cent in 2011, and 2.3 per cent in 2006.

Of the 649,200 people who reported being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin in 2016, 91 per cent were of Aboriginal origin, 5 per cent were of Torres Strait Islander origin, and 4.1 per cent reported being of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin.

While the Northern Territory has Australia’s highest proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (25.5 per cent of the NT population), New South Wales is home to the highest number, with more than 216,000 people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin.

The Census also revealed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is younger than Australia’s overall population, with a median age 23 years in 2016. This is substantially younger than the median age for non-Indigenous Australians, who had a median age of 38 years in 2016.

One in ten Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reported speaking an Australian Indigenous language at home in the 2016 Census. A total of 150 Australian Indigenous languages were spoken in homes in 2016, reflecting the linguistic diversity of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.
(Source: ABS)