Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers: the skills recognition and upskilling project

Introduction: Throughout 2014 and 2015 a series of three, two-week residential blocks were conducted by Tropical North Queensland TAFE in collaboration with James Cook University to deliver essential content to help with skills recognition and upskilling of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers in Queensland. The project goal was to assist eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers to qualify for a Certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice and be able to apply for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Purpose: This presentation will share what was achieved throughout this project and some of the challenges faced by the educational institutions in delivering the program. Furthermore, challenges faced by students will also be explored, along with strategies that were implemented to help overcome them. Issues for exploration or ideas for discussion: i.Criteria used for student selection to program –how successful was it? ii. The importance of clearly communicated training goals. iii. Working collaboratively to provide successful cross institutional education. Results: The first cohort of students were less satisfied with the training experience than the second and third cohorts of students. The results also showed that that the third cohort had the most students to complete all five units of the training package. Discussion: Reasons why the first cohort's experience was not as satisfying as the subsequent groups will be explored and discussed. Lesson learned and recommendations will be shared