Indigenous health workforce issues

Underlying all goals and strategies is a commitment to the health workforce needs of Indigenous communities.

In 2008, RHWA signed a historic MoU with the peak body for Aboriginal health in Australia, the National Aboriginal and Community Controlled Health Organisations (NACCHO).

In order to inform any future work, RHWA has also developed a comprehensive background policy paper.

National Health Policy Forum on Indigenous health workforce issues

In August 2007, RHWA convened a National Policy Forum on Indigenous Health Workforce Issues. The forum's deliberations and outcomes will help inform national policy development around workforce issues for rural and remote Indigenous communities.

The forum's program focused on three themes relating to the Indigenous health workforce. The first theme explored the current context, the second theme delved into the perspectives of health workers, including their motivations, rewards and challenges. The third theme asked employers and jurisdictions to identify three of the highest priority actions to address Indigenous health workforce issues.

Underpinning all our key objectives is a commitment to Indigenous health.Speakers and invitees included representatives of national and state organisations, governments and universities with an interest in rural, remote and Indigenous health care. Ms Dea Delaney-Thiele's and Dr Felicity Jefferies' presentations are available here to download. Associate Professor Helen Milroy's presentation will be available soon at this link. 

Dr Tim Leahy suggested ten key questions that Rural Workforce Agencies should be asking their boards. He raised several key goals which we will work towards. 

The outcomes from the forum are available to download as well as a background paper on Indigenous health workforce policy.

As part of the outcomes, Rural Health Workforce Australia and NACCHO have developed a Memorandum of Understanding to underpin our joint work into the future.