Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners

05 Aug 2022

National Board calls on health services to employ and enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners for better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Key points

• The National Day of Recognition acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and nationally registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners on 7 August each year.
• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia regulates over 850 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners are regulated in the same way as doctors, nurses, pharmacists and the other 12 regulated health professions.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner Board of Australia celebrates the profession’s contribution to culturally safe care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples on a day of recognition.

Board Chair, Renee Owen, said that health services make their practices and hospitals more culturally safe by employing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners.

‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners are pivotal partners in addressing national health priorities to improve the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples,’ Ms Owens said.

‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners play important roles as cultural brokers of, and contributors to, health improvements and outcomes in their communities.’

Ms Owen called on health services and other health professionals to get better informed about the profession to support their role and the access to safer healthcare it provides for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

‘Employers often don’t realise the breadth of services that registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners provide. They are primary health care providers that can be employed in a wide range of roles, from health promotion to clinical services.'

More information

Read more about the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner profession.

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