Queensland ATSICCHO Uplift Project 2025

In 2023, NAATSIHWP was commissioned by the North Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) to undertake a comprehensive review of the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker and Health Practitioner workforce (Workforce) employed by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisations (ATSICCHOs) in North Queensland. 

The project sought to support ATSICCHOs to remain employers of choice by exploring sustainable approaches to Workforce growth, development and retention.

To ensure the Uplift Project is aligned to the needs of the ATSICCHOs and their Workforce members, NAATSIHWP partnered with the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) and established a Steering Committee comprising CEO’s and Senior Executives from ATSICCHOs in North Queensland. The Steering Committee was formed early in the project to was designed to provide strategic oversight and guide stakeholder engagement, communication and consultation activities.

The project commenced with the development of a Discussion Paper outlining the national policy and workforce context. This was followed by face to face and online with Workforce members and managers across the region. The consultation approach was endorsed by the Steering Committee, which also supported promotion and engagement across participating services. Insights gathered through this process were analysed and consolidated through a Final Report .

This Final Report:

• outlines the project methodology
• describes the skills, qualifications, and roles of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners
• synthesises feedback from Workforce members and their managers and
• delivers key recommendations to support safe, sustainable and effective Workforce growth across North Queensland’s ATSICCHOs.

A central output of the project was the development of a career structure with accompanying level statements. Designed to support recruitment, retention and career progression across, community health, clinical and management roles. The structure is provided as a separate attachment to the Final Report and can be adapted locally to support consistent role design and position descriptions across services.

As the national workforce peak body, NAATSIHWP was pleased to lead this work in recognition of the central role ATSICCHOs play in caring for our communities. With more than half of NAATSIHWP’s full members employed in ATSICCHO’s across Australia, strengthening this workforce is essential not only for workforce sustainability, but also for achieving better health and wellbeing outcomes for our families and communities through advancing ‘home grown’ workforce capability.

If you have any questions about the Uplift Project, feel free to reach out to policy@naatsihwp.org.au .