Workforce Unit 

AMSANT believes that a healthy and productive workforce leads to stronger Aboriginal people and communities.

The AMSANT Workforce unit assists its members in strengthening their capacity in providing high quality primary health care services, in accordance with the needs of Aboriginal people in the NT, particularly in regards to their health, social, spiritual and cultural requirements.

The AMSANT Workforce Issues Policy Officer (WIPO) is responsible for implementing and undertaking key tasks identified in the Northern Territory Aboriginal Health Forum - Workforce Implementation Plan and the AMSANT Strategic Plan.

The main objectives for the Workforce unit are as follows:

1. Increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working across all health professions.

2. Improve the clarity of roles, regulation and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers as a key component of the health workforce, and improve vocational education and training sector support for the training of Aboriginal Health Workers.

3. Address the role and development needs of other health workforce groups contributing to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.

4. Improve the effectiveness of training, recruitment and retention measures targeting both non-Indigenous Australians and Indigenous Australians health staff working in the Aboriginal primary health services.

5. Include clear accountability for government programs to quantify and achieve these objectives and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and peoples to drive the process.

6. Strengthen health leadership among member organisations.

The WIPO organises meetings with the member organisations every six months to keep them up to date with national and territory workforce reforms; policies and programs across the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments; education and training systems and providers; the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and other Aboriginal primary health care services. 

Equally important is for the Workforce unit to listen to the members in relation to issues and concerns which may be impacting on their workforce and the services they provide in the community.