The Role and Practice of Aboriginal Health Workers in the Great Southern and South West Regions of Western Australia

Download or read book The Role and Practice of Aboriginal Health Workers in the Great Southern and South West Regions of Western Australia written by Naomi Gail Smith and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Information collected during the interviews and focus group discussions revealed that Aboriginal health workers undertook a range of work activities and performed a number of different roles. They hold a holistic view of health and were committed to providing culturally appropriate primary health care services to the Aboriginal people. The study found that Aboriginal health workers in the Great Southern and South West regions received different amounts of orientation and training to become qualified. Many health workers believed that they received little or no recognition of their formal qualifications from management, health personnel or government, and that there was confusion about their classifications and pay levels relevant to their positions. Most health workers believed the regulations governing their organisations were in conflict with the holistic health services that they strive to deliver, and some believed that restrictive financial constraints on their organisation hindered them from providing effective services. Finally, the general feeling amongst health workers was that they needed more support from managers in all areas of their work. The concerns expressed by Aboriginal health workers who took part in this study were further demonstrated by the number of resignations that occurred during the two year period in which the research was undertaken.provide non-t.