In a bid to increase the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce in the North West Hospital and Health Service from 10 to 26 per cent of the workforce in seven years, the NWHHS will launch its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforce Strategy on Tuesday at Mount Isa Hospital at 9.30am.
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NWHHS Executive Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Christine Mann, said the strategy was an important part of improving the health of the North West's Aboriginal community.
"That is a key priority for the NWHHS, and it reflects a change in the way we operate to become more responsive to the needs of Indigenous people," Ms Mann said.
Ms Mann said a concerted effort to employ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at all levels of the health service would ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices were front and centre of health care.
"The strategy provides a framework that builds on the current infrastructure, capability and foundations of NWHHS," she said.
"The framework comprises of six key focus areas and underlining principles identified by the NWHHS to deliver accountability and change at every level within the NWHHS.
"These focus areas are interlinked and are all critical to the overall success of the strategy. They are: Recruitment, Retention, Workforce Profile, Leadership and Governance, Inclusive Workplaces and Community Engagement," Ms Mann said.
The strategy was developed in collaboration with the National Employment Services Association, and a collaboration Ms Mann described as "an authentic partnership".
"Their commitment to assisting our Hospital and Health Service to achieve more equitable workforce outcomes, grow our cultural capability and support our vision in improving health outcomes has made our task easier with their professional staff and specialist knowledge."
Ms Mann said the project would now be rolled out with the goal of achieving 26 per cent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in the NWHHS workforce, reflecting the makeup of the population of the North West, by 2026.
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