Milestone reached with 1000 registered ATSI health practitioners

Ahpra is celebrating the resilience and tenacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners.

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For the first time Ahpra has 1000 registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners on its books. 

Jayde Fuller, head of the regulator’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services Unit and a proud Gomeroi woman, said Ahpra congratulated the practitioners for “their tireless commitment to providing healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and give our commitment to help make their workplace safer”. 

“The National Scheme is implementing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Safety Strategy 2020-2025 by taking a strategic approach to dismantling all forms of racism, systemic, institutional and interpersonal,” she said.  

“We are informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of being, knowing and doing and continue to build on the foundations of those who have come before us.” 

Bundjalung man David Follent, chair of the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners, said: 

“The timing of this milestone couldn’t be more perfect, with the sector gathering for the NAATSIHWP Conference on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar country, in Perth. 

“We are honouring these two critical workforces with the theme ‘Reaping the rewards of resilience’, and to reach 1000 registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners is a testament to their tenacity.” 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners work autonomously or as part of a multidisciplinary team, providing a broad range of expertise in both primary and tertiary healthcare, from administering and supplying medications, to acute and chronic disease management and advocating for patients. 

Bardi and Jabirr Jabirr woman Iris Raye is chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia, which supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners. 

“This milestone gives us a moment to pause and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners for their incredible sacrifices to care for our families and communities’ health and wellbeing,” she said. 

“We honour our trailblazers whose shoulders we stand on. To recognise our key stakeholders and allies who champion this profession. 

“Together we rise to the challenges for better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. 

“We empower mob to make them feel welcome, safe and comfortable when using health services and to make self-determined decisions about our health and wellbeing. We are critical to closing the gap in healthcare disparities. 

“Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families’ and communities’ safety is our priority. The Board is working collectively and collaboratively with the National Scheme and key stakeholders to eliminate racism and create culturally safe healthcare.”