Course Summary

HLT40221 Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice reflects the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners. It is specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who work as part of a multidisciplinary health care team providing primary health care services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities. They provide culturally safe health and wellbeing promotion, preventative health care and clinical treatment services in a diversity of locations including urban, rural and remote settings. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners use initiative and judgement within the parameters of practice standards, treatment protocols and clinical supervision arrangements established by the employing organisation. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners are registered through Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia (ATSIHPBA) - only when registered, can practitioners use the protected title of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner. However, registration is not automatically linked to an individual’s certification in this qualification. Current requirements for practitioners to complete an accredited program of study, and how training organisations accredit their program, are managed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Accreditation Committee (ATSIHPAC). NOTE: CQU holds accreditation for HLT40213 Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice. The required transition to HLT40221 Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice will require a re-accreditation of CQUniversity's program, by application to AHPRA.

Entry Requirements

Mandatory requirements - 500 clinical hours are required to be completed to gain qualification as per the training package and AHPRA registration requirements for Aboriginal Health Practitioners. Students must either be currently working in or have access to volunteering in relevant clinics, facilities or organisations and have a suitably qualified supervisor from that sector to sign them off on industry reports. These reports assess your ability to perform tasks in the workplace, they are referred to as 'third party reports', for example, 'Clinical Logbook' and or 'Simulation Logbook'.

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

Students must be 18 years of age upon completion of the course to gain AHPRA registration.

Provide 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, such as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker. The University accepts any or all the following documents to verify an applicant as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander or First Nations person:

(a) certified copies of the applicant’s Confirmation of Identity documents. A Confirmation of Identity document is usually provided by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community organisation. The documentation names the individual and confirms they are a recognised member of a specified Indigenous Australian community;

(b) Native Title documentation issued by a Prescribed Body Corporate which specifically names the applicant or provides other formal evidence of ancestral or familial ties; or

(c) in the absence of (a) or (b), an original Statutory Declaration signed by the applicant, accompanied by two supporting documents of verification from a recognised cultural consultant/referee.

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

Mandatory requirements:  500 clinical hours are required to complete the qualification as per the training package and AHPRA registration requirements for Aboriginal Health Practitioners. Students must either be currently working in or have access to volunteering in relevant clinic, facility or organisation and have a suitably qualified supervisor to sign off on industry reports. These reports assess students' ability to perform tasks in the workplace and are referred to as 'third party reports'. Some units within the course will require students to complete specific tasks in the workplace and are identified in the assessment requirements for that unit.

Effective 25 September 2023, updates have been made to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for Queensland Health sites and the Queensland Ambulance Service. While Queensland Health does not currently mandate evidence of COVID-19 vaccination, it's essential to recognise that other organisations may enforce their own vaccination specific criteria. This situation is similar across other states and territories, with the exception of Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, where COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all healthcare students.  

Course Details

Admission Codes

Student Outcomes, Career Opportunities and Occupations

This qualification provides a pathway to work in a range of health care settings including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community organisations, and the public or private health sector. Aboriginal Health Practitioners 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 Aboriginal Health Practitioner, 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.