Skills boost “the best medicine” for Aboriginal health
Ten Aboriginal Health Practitioner Trainees graduate
“A record number of Aboriginal Health Practitioners [AHPs] will today graduate from the Congress AHP Traineeship program; a partnership with Batchelor College.” Congress’ General Manager – Health Services, Tracey Brand said today.
“Ten Aboriginal Health Practitioners from our AHP Traineeship program – including three from our bush clinics – will graduate with their Certificate IV Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (Practice) and two senior AHPs will graduate with a Diploma in Aboriginal Primary Health Care.
“Aboriginal Health Practitioners are a strategic priority for our workforce. AHPs are critical to the work of Congress in delivering culturally safe and responsive comprehensive primary health care to our people” said Ms Brand.
Aboriginal Health Practitioners are recognised nationally as a fundamental component of Aboriginal comprehensive primary health care. As well as providing primary health care, AHPs provide cultural security and safety, disease prevention and health promotion, and local community knowledge. They work within multidisciplinary health care teams to achieve better health outcomes for Aboriginal people and play a key role in facilitating relationships between other health professionals to provide care that meets the client’s physical, social, emotional and cultural needs.
Tallira Anderson is one of the ten graduates. “As a young mum, I was inspired to become an Aboriginal Health Practitioner to be a role model for my daughter.”
“Growing up seeing too many of my family with preventable chronic illnesses, I want to make a difference. I am now a graduate AHP and proud to be working in the new Congress Northside clinic.” said Ms Anderson.
“Following a challenging period in recruiting AHPs in 2016, Congress embarked on a mission to develop our own and launched the Congress AHP traineeship program. The graduations this week are evidence of the program’s success.” continued Ms Brand.
“AHP graduates are to be congratulated on their achievement in attaining their qualification.
“Congress now employs 21 AHPs across our town and remote clinics and will continue to invest in the AHP workforce by employing a minimum of three AHP trainees each year.”
Media enquiries: Kate Buckland 0408 741 691
