Attraction and retention
Recognising the high use of health services by Aboriginal people, it is critical that we ensure that the profile of all health professions and occupations better matches this client group.
WA Health needs to be deliberate and purposeful in efforts to attract and recruit Aboriginal workers. We have established the following initiatives and actions.
Establish Aboriginal specific positions
Area health services will be encouraged to:
- use legislation to support the creation of Aboriginal specific positions
- identify positions in health which could attract “protected title” status
- include “Aboriginality” in job description forms in either essential or desirable criteria for identified positions
- establish baseline numbers of existing positions in WA Health that have exceptions under the Equal Opportunity Act
Equality statements in job advertisements
We will encourage the use of the following statement in all position advertisements:
“WA Health is committed to achieving a diverse workforce and strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people from culturally diverse backgrounds and people with disabilities.”
Aboriginal specific positions
The Health Networks models of care will be used as a guide to identify positions which should be Aboriginal specific – for example, the Renal Network training Aboriginal health workers to deliver support to dialysis patients.
Guidelines and recruitment strategies
We will provide educational resources and training for human resource personnel to develop and implement Aboriginal employment initiatives.
Employment register of Aboriginal individuals
We will encourage the use of the Aboriginal Employment Program in the metropolitan area. Where identified Aboriginal positions are advertised we will encourage “pool recruitment” to establish an employment resource base.
Partnerships in workforce skill development
We will work with Department of Education and Training, vocational education training organisations and the universities.
Work experience programs
We will work with Department of Education and Training to encourage work experience programs across the professions and trades. One initiative will be to include a Certificate 2 in Aboriginal health work in schools, leading to employment opportunities in the health sector.
Achieve Aboriginal employment targets
We will use existing training programs and support mechanisms. The Office of Aboriginal Health and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations will work together to use the structured training and employment projects.
Support mechanisms and networks
We will establish and promote an Aboriginal employees' reference network, together with the Aboriginal Health Council of WA and Aboriginal registered training organisations. This will help provide a coordinated health sector response to Aboriginal health.