Closing the Gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

Dr. Alison NelsonDirector, Allied Health and Workforce Development

35%

65%

Active Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients with a diagnosis of diabetes

MaleFemale

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Improving Stable Worsened

Of all clients with more than one HbA1C recorded, what was the trend in HbA1C over the last 12 months?

• Workforce Strategy tied to Comprehensive health care• Addressing social determinants of health alongside

health conditions• Education• Employment

• Enabling non-Indigenous and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce

Student Clinical Placements

• 2010: 5120 Clinical Hours/semester• 2013: 17484 Clinical Hours/semester

• 340% growth over 3 years

Semester 2 2010

Medicine Occupational Therapy

Dentistry

Semester 1 2013

Medicine Occupational Therapy

Dentistry and Oral health

Speech Pathology

Human Movement

Studies

Optometry

Psychology

Nursing and Midwifery

Pharmacy Podiatry Political Science

Business and Economics

Social Work

Counselling Arts Biomedical

Science

Clinical Placements: Key Features

• Sector Driven• Students are centrally coordinated by IUIH– Universities have a central conduit

• All students receive common orientation with cultural orientation incorporated

• Different models of student placement to fit different needs

• Students are invited to complete research survey at completion of placement

Outcomes

• Increased likelihood of working in the sector• Increased understanding of working with

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people• Pool of capable professionals to draw on:– 4 Students/graduates now employed (1

Aboriginal)

• Also led to growth in allied health staff from 1 in 2010 to 15 FTE’s in 2013 (including 4 Aboriginal health professionals)

School Based Traineeships

• Cert 3 in Allied health Assisting/Dental Assisting (9 students)

• 2013: 5 year 12’s completed (3 Year 11’s continuing)

• Transition plans for school to work/study including pathways into tertiary preparation and mentoring into health professions

Questions?