Course Summary

This qualification reflects the role of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples who provide a range of non-clinical primary health care services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities, including specific health care programs. These professionals can be expected to flexibly assume a variety of job roles and undertake a broad range of tasks either individually or as a member of a multidisciplinary team. No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.

These may include, but are not, limited to:

• assessment and screening of physical health and social emotional well being
• health promotion for risk factors (e.g. tobacco, healthy eating)
• providing health care in line with care plans and/or treatment protocols
• supporting clients in self-management, including the safe use of traditional and Western medications
• planning, delivering and evaluating population health programs
• advocating for clients, including interpreting and translating language providing advice, support and training on providing culturally safe health services to other health professionals, policy makers, researchers and educators

Entry Requirements

Mandatory requirements - 500 clinical hours are required to complete to gain qualification. Students will be required to either be working in or have access to volunteering in relevant clinic, facility or organisation and have a suitably qualified supervisor from the that sector to sign you off on industry reports. These reports assess your ability to perform tasks in the workplace, they are referred to as '3rd party reports'. Some units within your course will require you to complete these workplace task and are identified in the assessment requirements for that unit.

Basic Key Skills Builder (BKSB) online literacy and numeracy assessment prior to enrolment, unless the student has completed an equal or higher level course.

Minimum age to apply is 17 years

Provide evidence of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Identity documentation.

This course is an Indigenous specific program that allows Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply for identified positions within the Health sector like Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health worker or Practitioner.

When you apply for proof of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage through an Indigenous organisation, they will probably ask you to explain your heritage to their committee or to provide documentation/information that confirms your heritage. For this reason it’s useful to find out as much as you can about your family history before you contact them. This is particularly important if you or your ancestors have been displaced from your heritage. This process can take some time, depending when the organisation has its meetings. A ‘letter of confirmation’ is usually obtained from an incorporated Indigenous organisation and must be stamped with their common seal.

Mandatory Clinical Placement Requirements: As per the CQU Immunisation Policy and for patient and student safety, checks are now mandatory for any placement Refer to the Clinical Placement Guidelines and Mandatory Checks Requirements for Clinical Placement for more details.

Vocational Placement and Work Integrated Learning

Students must complete a Vocational Placement and/or Work Integrated Learning as part of this qualification.

Additional information

500 hrs of Vocational Placement is required to develop skills and be assessed in competencies in the workplace environment. Students will need to organise this placement with a relevant Clinic, Facility or Organisation

Mandatory requirements - You will be required to either be working in or have access to volunteering in relevant clinic, facility or  organisation and have a suitably qualified supervisor from the that sector to sign you off on industry reports. These reports assess your ability to perform tasks in the workplace, they are referred to as '3rd party reports'. Some units within your course will require you to complete these workplace task and are identified in the assessment requirements for that unit.

Course Details

Admission Codes

Student Outcomes, Career Opportunities and Occupations

Aboriginal Health Workers form part of a team providing clinical and primary health care services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients, families and community groups. They work with patients, clients and visitors to hospitals and health clinics and assist in arranging, coordinating and providing health care in community health clinics.

Roles could include Health Worker (Generalist), Outreach Worker, Mental Health Worker, Family Health Worker, Sexual Health Worker, Education Officer, Hospital Liaison Officer, Drug and Alcohol Worker, Environmental Health Worker, Community Worker, Healthy Living Worker, Vascular Health Worker, Pharmacy Health Worker, Maternal and Perinatal Health Worker, Otitis Media Health Worker, Nutrition Health Worker, Eye Care Coordinator or Primary Health Care Practice Manager.