Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice in 2023/24

Issues this year

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners play an important role in ensuring their families and communities receive culturally and clinically safe healthcare. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia continues to actively engage with employers and other stakeholders to support initiatives that ensure understanding of the registration requirements for practitioners.

The Board and the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP) began working together on Strategic Direction 1.1 of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan 2021–2031. This project is revising, expanding and nationally standardising the professional scope of practice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners.

Accreditation

The Board participated in the review of accreditation arrangements conducted along with other National Boards, and agreed to assign the accreditation functions for the profession to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Accreditation Committee for a period of five years from 1 July 2024.

The Board acknowledges the excellent ongoing work of the committee and the accreditation support team. The committee continues to engage with its stakeholders, including education providers, around a range of topics relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice education and accreditation, and this is an important pillar in the effective work of the committee.

Stakeholder engagement

The Board and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia developed a fact sheet, Guidance for nurses and midwives working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners, to recognise the collaborative role that nurses and midwives have with our profession. A detailed program of presentations and webinars was offered to support the dissemination of this important piece of work.

Strategic workshop

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice profession continues to grow, but in some years at too slow a rate. To better understand the issues facing the profession, in May the Board brought together a group of its regulatory colleagues and stakeholders to gain a shared understanding of priority issues. The Board aims to continue this significant piece of work by engaging more broadly with industry and the profession in the future.

Other news

In March, the Board thanked Ms Renee Owen and Mr Bruce Brown for their unwavering commitment and hard work as they retired from the Board. Renee retired as our Chair and practitioner member after 12 years of service; Bruce, a community member, retired after nine years.

The Board welcomed two new members, Ms Jessica Mitchell and Mr Steven Satour, to the Board, and I had the opportunity and privilege of being appointed as Chair of the Board.

As Board Chair, I offer my personal thanks and appreciation to all Board and committee members, whose efforts and contributions enable the Board to continue its significant work.

On behalf of the Board, I thank Ahpra for the continued support it provides to our work. And special thanks must go to Mr Paul Fisher, Executive Officer; Mr John Brady, Senior Policy and Project Officer; and Ms Bet Tennant, Board Support Officer, for their amazing work and incredible support throughout the year.

Ms Iris Raye, Chair