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Further insight into ‘valuable’ health workforce guide
An educational series examines how Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners add value to care models.
The aim is to equip general practices to deliver culturally safe, quality care for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander patients ‘now and into the future’, CEO of NAATSIHWP Karl Briscoe says.
Almost one year ago, the National Association for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP) developed a landmark guide to support general practices to better understand the benefits of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners.
The ‘valuable resource’, endorsed by the RACGP and launched at last year’s Practice Owner’s Conference, is designed to promote the effective integration of this workforce into models of care.
To further highlight the importance of the guide, in collaboration with RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, NAATSIHWP is running an educational webinar series to support GPs, practice managers, and primary care teams to strengthen their understanding of the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander healthcare workforce and their critical role in delivering culturally safe, high‑quality primary care.
Across the three one-hour learning modules, participants will gain a clearer understanding of scope of practice, employment and funding arrangements, and the structural and cultural factors that influence workforce sustainability. The series is eligible for 3 EA CPD points.
The series details practical strategies for effective integration, collaboration and retention, with a strong focus on cultural safety.
Karl Briscoe is the CEO of NAATSIHWP and a Kuku Yalanji man. He told newsGP the webinar series is intended to further educate primary care teams on effectively using the guide and embedding it into practice.
‘While the guide provides clarity, many practices wanted increased support – particularly around understanding scope of practice, practical implementation, and sustainable employment within general practice settings,’ he said.
‘In response to that demand, NAATSIHWP developed a structured three‑part webinar series. The series builds directly on the success of the guide, moving from foundational understanding, to scope and capability, and finally to implementation, funding and workforce sustainability.
‘Together, the guide and webinar series are designed to support general practices not just to understand this workforce, but to confidently integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners into effective, culturally safe models of primary care.’
Mr Briscoe will officially launch the new educational webinars at the upcoming RACGP Practice Owners Conference on 23 May, presenting on ‘Integrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners’.
He says the webinar series aims to provide a ‘deeper understanding and insight’ into the roles of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners and the roles they undertake in general practice.
‘[It will support GPs to] recognise the unique contribution this workforce makes to culturally safe, holistic, and community connected models of care,’ he said.
‘The goal here isn’t perfection. It’s about doing this well, thoughtfully, and sustainably – so that general practices feel better equipped to deliver culturally safe, high‑quality care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients/clients, now and into the future.’
Across the three webinars held over May and June, GPs can upskill in:
- describing the role and value of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners in primary healthcare
- distinguishing between the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker and Health Practitioner professions, including qualifications and regulatory requirements
- identifying opportunities to better utilise this workforce within general practice and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service settings
- explaining how scope of practice is determined for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners
- understanding jurisdictional differences that affect clinical practice, including medication administration
- recognising cultural and colonial load and their impact on workforce wellbeing and retention
- implement practical strategies to create culturally safe, anti‑racist workplaces that support long‑term retention and professional growth.
At the RACGP’s upcoming conference, Mr Briscoe is looking forward to the opportunity to engage and network with practice owners and showcase how the roles of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners ‘add value’ to their models of care.
‘We know that better health outcomes are achieved for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people when our professions are involved in the provision of healthcare in our communities, with the presentation providing insights into how this can be achieved,’ he said.
Registration is now available for the three-part NAATSIHWP webinar series:
The 2026
Practice Owners Conference website details the full conference program and registration.
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Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner and Health Workers general practice guide NAATSIHWP Practice Owners Conference
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