The Department for Health and Wellbeing (DHW) has released a draft plan to strengthen and grow the Aboriginal health workforce as part of the Rural Health Workforce Strategy.
Commenting on the Consultation Draft South Australia’s Rural Aboriginal Health Workforce Plan 2021−26: Part of South Australia’s Rural Health Workforce Strategy, Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Stephen Wade said it explored strategies to ensure the State attracted, recruited and strengthened a regional Aboriginal health workforce.
“Our draft Rural Aboriginal Health Workforce Plan aims to increase the Aboriginal health workforce in regional areas and provide culturally appropriate and supportive health care for Aboriginal people, closer to home,” Mr Wade said.
“Consultation with Aboriginal communities, regional Local Health Network leads, the Aboriginal health workforce and key stakeholders will occur across the State until October,” he said.
“Feedback will be brought together to ensure we can secure the workforce we need for the future.”
Acting Chief Clinical Advisor for the Rural Support Service, Dr Matthew McConnell, said the proposed strategies aimed to build a stronger and more sustainable Aboriginal health workforce in regional areas.
“More than 17,000 Aboriginal people live across our six regional Local Health Networks, which is why it is important we increase the capacity and capability of the Aboriginal health workforce in both our hospitals and community settings,” Dr McConnell said.
Mr Wade said consultation sessions would take place from August to October in each of the six regional local health networks to seek feedback on the consultation draft, with the final plan expected to be released by December.
For details about the consultation sessions or to provide feedback, the 54-page Consultation Draft can be viewed at this PS News link.
