The Victorian Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy

The Victorian Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy (Strategy) aims to support a strong and able workforce, across the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) sector, to deliver holistic health and wellbeing services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

This will improve health and wellbeing outcomes and improved health equity for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community in Victoria.

Victorian Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy

Rapid Desktop Review of the Strategy

10 Strategic Priorities

The Strategy outlines 10 strategic priorities as well as providing a coordinated framework and implementation plan to address the attraction, recruitment, retention, and development of the workforce – inclusive of clinical and non-clinical employment across all levels, roles, and functions.

 

Workforce development

1. Grow our own: Increase the number and proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people employed in the sector and across all levels, roles, and functions.
2. Create the environment: Establish the conditions for workers to thrive and fulfil their potential.
3. Equip allies: Increase the capability of non-Indigenous people to provide effective, culturally safe services.
4. Invest for success: Provide appropriate and sustainable funding.
5. Work together: Undertake data-informed workforce planning and development in genuine partnership under Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander leadership.

Cultural Strength

6. Value our knowledge: Value Aboriginal Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing.
7. Recognise our holistic approach: Enable the sector to work holistically and collaboratively.
8. Draw strength through culture: Embed Aboriginal cultures within health and wellbeing services.

Self-determination

9. Our choice, our way: Enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to own our health and wellbeing.
10. Create targeted and regional solutions: Support targeted and localised workforce planning.

The Strategy acknowledges the strong history of the Aboriginal Community Controlled health sector and their role in providing culturally safe, responsive and holistic health and wellbeing services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Victoria. It has been developed in a way that supports ACCOs to exercise their self-determination, recognising the diversity in culture and knowledge in communities, and that the greatest success comes from place-based, community-led and governed solutions.

Together with mainstream health and wellbeing services, education and training providers and government stakeholders, we can build a strong and sustainable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing workforce in Victoria.

Other recommended reading and useful links

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About the artwork

By Dixon Patten
Gunnai, Yorta Yorta, Gunditjmara, Dhudhuroa

The idea for the art is to focus on the value of Aboriginal knowledge and honouring our teachings and perspectives. The art has 3 figures, representing three generations. The process of learning and observing our elders’ wisdoms is crucial as they are the knowledge holders of culture, the figures are wrapped in a possum skin cloak that represents the wisdom.

The two figures behind are the workers, the ones who benefit from listening and observing and who are helping shape our contemporary existence and navigating new spaces but still being led by old wisdoms.

The various pathways lead to community and family and signifies our strong connections also, that culture is embedded within this land and we stem from such strong history and bloodlines.

The water behind the figures represents the ability to reflect and our culture teaches us to observe and listen whilst still in our flow.

The gum leaves represent growth on our journey and the stones represent stepping stones for our mob, we are empowered with each step through culture.