Workforce Issues Unit

VACCHO Workforce Issues Unit’s vision is to achieve a skilled workforce responding to the needs of Aboriginal communities in the delivery of comprehensive primary health care through the principles of Aboriginal community control.  The unit manages various programs under its umbrella focussing on different workforce issues initiatives in addition to specific project funding activities.

Workforce Issues Unit’s Goals

• Ensure that VACCHO’s Workforce Issues Unit has the capacity to perform effectively
• Improve VACCHO member’s capacity to develop, manage and access programs and deliver services
• Develop and maintain key partnerships and collaborations to improve the accessibility and quality of health services

Workforce Issues Policy

The Workforce Issues Policy Officer (WIPO) manages the Workforce Issues Unit as well as undertakes workforce projects as part of the Workforce Issues Policy Officer Funding Agreement.   The position works within, and implements strategies from the National Workforce Strategic Framework (Yellow Book).

The ‘yellow book’ provides a broad workforce agenda including strategies that have been adopted and incorporated into the Victorian Workforce State implementation plan.

Quality and Accreditation

The Quality and Accreditation Coordinator and Officer assist and provide ongoing support to VACCHO member organisations to attain Quality Australian Healthcare Standards. 

The Australian government has an expectation that all OATSIH funded ACCHSs be accredited against these standards by June 2011

General Practice Education and Training

The General Practice Education and Training Officer’s role includes working with the Victorian Regional General Practice Training Providers to connect GP Registrars to the Community Controlled Health Services as well as assisting the VACCHO Members to enhance capacity to provide quality Indigenous Health Training to the GP Registrars. 

Medicare Enhancement Audits

The Medicare Enhancement Officer position aims to provide information to ACCHSs on all Medicare related issues.

The primary focus of this position is to conduct Medicare Audits with Member Services to streamline Medicare practices and operations.

Partnerships

The Workforce Issues Unit works collaboratively with various key stakeholders and committees across Victoria.

• Rural Workforce Agency of Victoria (RWAV)
• Medicare Australia
• General Practice Victoria (GPV)
• Victorian Aboriginal Council on Koori Health (VACKH) workforce sub-committee
• General Practice Education and Training (GPET)
• Regional Training Providers (RTP)
• Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association (VHIA)
• Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV)
• Department of Human Services (DHS)
• Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

Additional Key Projects

Workforce Issues Unit works on additional key project and specific funded activities. 

• Workforce Needs Analysis Publication
• QUMAX
• Practice Managers Qualification Training
• Development of ‘Scope of Practice’ Paper for Aboriginal Health Workers in Victoria
• Aboriginal Health Worker Registration and Regulation
• VACCHO Aboriginal Health Worker Forum – 5-7 May 2009
• Indigenous Awareness Training