ACT Health Workforce Strategy 2023-2032

The Strategy takes a comprehensive approach to recognising the areas to be strengthened and identifies early actions to continue building a sustainable workforce. The Strategy includes a strategic priority focus on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce and a culturally safe environment. It commits to working in partnership to develop long-term, sustainable actions based on trust, awareness and an understanding of experiences of ACT and region Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, families and communities.

Under the Strategy, Canberra Health Services (CHS) released the Action Plan 1: 2025-2026, including Action 1.3 – to co-design an ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Action Plan. This includes the use of appropriately collated data to create pathways to increase the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing workforce in the ACT.

CHS is also developing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff Social and Emotional Wellbeing Strategy aligned to the broader CHS Wellbeing Strategy 2023–2026. In close consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, CHS engaged a fully Aboriginal owned and managed Canberra consulting firm to develop this Strategy.

The Workforce Action Plan will draw on the input identified through the consultation process to develop the CHS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff Social and Emotional Wellbeing Strategy.

In addition, CHS is continuing as an employment partner with the Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) Academy. The program provides Year 11 and Year 12 students with a fully supported School-Based Traineeship while they complete school and undertake a Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance. The pathway is designed to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school student engagement, retention, and successful completion of Year 12 with an additional qualification that promotes careers within the mainstream health sector.