Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the traditional custodians of the land and sea where we live and work, we pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their Elders past, present and future, particulalry those living and working in our Queensland remote and rural communities.

The workforce needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Services are an embedded priority and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with critical workforce need are our highest priority. Health Workforce Queensland actively supports the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Services through provision of recruitment services, scholarships and bursaries, continuing professional development and workforce and service planning. We have developed a set of principles to guide the prioritisation of our activities within remote and rural Queensland.

Our Health Workforce Needs Assessment (HWNA) highlights a need for a health workforce that is able to deliver culturally appropriate care. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners play an important role in reducing anxiety and improving the quality and cultural safety of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We collaborate with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled stakeholders in the sector on strategies which can assist in the development, and encourage the current and future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce to explore options within remote and rural health.