Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy Unit
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of being, knowing and doing guides the National Scheme's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Safety Strategy 2020-2025 in eliminating racism from healthcare.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners, peak bodies, businesses and race scholars shape the transformative work of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy Unit (HSU).
Meet the Mob at Ahpra
Jayde Fuller
Gamilaraay
HSU National Director
Melissa Browning
Coodjingburra – Bundjalung, Kullilli, Kombumerri
HSU Program Manager
Kerry Klimm
Kuku Yalanji, Koko Lamalama
Senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communications and Engagement Advisor
Rachel Stringfellow
Gudandji
Senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Project Officer
Matarley Hutchison
Kalkadoon/Undumbi
HSU Coordinator
Courtney Garrett-Jacky
Minjungbal/Darumbal
Senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Notifications Officer
Ahpra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff honour all those who have come before us working for safer healthcare, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners from all professions who care for our mob.
Racism free and culturally safe healthcare
It is against the law for health practitioners to be racist and culturally unsafe towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (RDA) makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person because of his or her race, colour, descent.
The RDA protects people from racial discrimination in many areas of public life, including getting services.
Ahpra’s role is to protect the public by setting standards and policies that all registered health practitioners must meet.
Cultural safety in the National Law is part of those standards, providing an agreed definition of cultural safety in the codes of conduct for more than 850,000 registered health practitioners.
Racist and culturally unsafe practice and behaviour is unlawful and can carry substantive penalties, including deregistration.
Every part of Ahpra and National Boards are working within the same principle and towards the same objective, that is to provide culturally safe healthcare free from racism to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
What does the HSU do?
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy Unit (HSU) is 100% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staffed, driving the strategy goal for a healthcare system that is culturally safe and free from racism.
The HSU is taking a strategic approach to dismantling all forms of racism, systemic, institutional and interpersonal as a matter of urgency. This includes ownership and accountability by providers, practitioners and regulators to creating safe healthcare.
The HSU:
- advocated for legislative reform
- is creating a culturally safe process for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, practitioners and students making a complaint by supporting Indigenous people in the intake process.
- collaborated with the Medical Board of Australia and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia to delegate decision-making to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander National Special Issues Committees, comprised of Indigenous and non-Indigenous members, who make decisions regarding complaint and compliance matters involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander notifiers and practitioners.
- is finalising an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anti-Racism Policy, developed by race scholar Professor Yin Paradies, for the National Scheme.
- is developing a Cultural Safety Accreditation and Continuing Professional Development Project for all registered health practitioners.
Contact the HSU team via email
How do we support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners?
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement and Support team is made up of two dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff supporting you throughout your registration journey as a health practitioner.
The team correspond with over 10,600 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners across 16 health professions.
The team is a liaison point if you need support or help with anything to do with your registration or Ahpra. It doesn't matter what it is, they will help or find the right person in Ahpra who can help you.
The team will share useful information and news from the National Scheme and elsewhere through regular correspondence.
Also, check out the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce series discussing important factors affecting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce and identify actions needed to best support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners.
Contact the Engagement and Support team for any questions or support via email
Jobs for Mob
Ahpra’s team of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff is growning significantly.
We are focused on recruiting more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers across all levels in Ahpra.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander positions available
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander board and committee member participation
The Strategy sets an achievable target of Indigenous representation across The Scheme. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples on Boards and committees helps to ensure Indigenous views and culturally safe ways of working are embedded in core business.
We’re establishing a mentoring and support program specifically for Indigenous Board, committee and staff members to set them up for success.
Interested in becoming a member, or want more information contact us via email
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Board and committee opportunities