Aboriginal Health Worker workforce

Definitions

Aboriginal Workforce in NSW Health: The overarching term that refers to all Aboriginal staff, irrespective of their role, working within NSW Health.

Aboriginal Health Worker Workforce: The umbrella term for Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs) and Aboriginal Health Practitioners (AHPs). ​

  • Aboriginal Health Workers (AHW) provide non-clinical services such as advocacy, support, liaison, and health promotion in community and hospital​ settings. An AHW has undertaken, or is willing to undertake, a minimum Certificate III Aboriginal Primary Health Care. Role titles include Aboriginal Community Health Workers, Aboriginal Hospital​ Liaison Officer. 
  • Aboriginal Health Practitioners (AHP) provide direct clinical services to local Aboriginal communities. AHPs hold a Certificate IV in Aboriginal Primary Health Care Practice and are registered with ATSIHPBA supported by AHPRA. ​

Aboriginal Health Worker and Aboriginal Health Practitioner activities

​Aboriginal Health Worker activities can include cultural navigation, social and emotional wellbeing support, patient advocacy, health promotion, and case coordination. ​

Aboriginal Health Practitioners can provide the cultural lens in conjunction with clinical activities. Clinical activities may include supporting discharge planning, clinical procedures, assessments and observations , pre-admission assessments and implementation care according to patient plans and protocols.

Diagram explaining the difference between Aboriginal Health Practitioners and Aboriginal Health Workers. Full description can be found under the heading Aboriginal Health Worker and Aboriginal Health Practitioner activities.
Note: This list is not exhaustive and the intention of the diagram is to support the understanding of the delineation between AHW and AHP activities

Aboriginal Health Practitioners in multi-​disciplinary teams

Diagram illustrating the implementation of Aboriginal Health Practitioners working in multi-disciplinary teams as a defined clinical profession. Full explanation of diagram outlined in below text.​

​The above diagram represents the implementation of the Aboriginal Health Practitioner workforce into the multi-disciplinary team as its own defined clinical profession. Integration of Aboriginal Health Practitioners into the clinical multi-disciplinary team will strengthen the delivery of culturally safe clinical care to Aboriginal clients. 

Healthy Deadly Feet is an exemplar project on how Aboriginal Health Practitioners and/or Aboriginal Health Workers and/or Allied Health Assistants can be incorporated into a multi-disciplinary team. For more information, visit Hea​​lthy Deadly Feet.

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia (ATSIHPBA) have developed the following Fact Sheet: Guidance for nurses and midwives working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Practitioners​​

Aboriginal Health Practitioners

To celebrate the National Day of Recognition for Aboriginal Health Workers and Aboriginal Health Practitioners on 7 August 2024, NSW Health has released a video highlighting the work the profession does in connecting Aboriginal people to culturally safe clinical care.

 

The Decision Making Framework for Aboriginal Health Practitioners supports the understanding of clinical scope of practice and safe practice considerations through supervision.

​Further information

For additional information on the scope of practice for Aboriginal Health Workers and Aboriginal Health Practitioners, or further advice, please contact the Aboriginal Workforce team at MOH-AboriginalWorkforce@health.nsw.gov.au​.

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Current as at: Wednesday 16 April 2025
Contact page owner: Aboriginal Workforce