The South Metropolitan Health Service's Rockingham General Hospital has recently welcomed the first Aboriginal Health Practitioners to join WA Health.
The Aboriginal Health Practitioners (AHPs) will play a crucial role in supporting both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal individuals who seek medical attention at the hospital's emergency department for acute and urgent illnesses and injuries.
The WA government said the addition of AHPs to the multi-disciplinary teams at Rockingham General Hospital (RGH) is a significant development in providing "quality clinical care" to patients throughout Western Australia.
AHPs are capable of delivering clinical and primary healthcare services, as well as offering case management and care planning.
The appointments mark the beginning of the implementation of AHPs across WA Health, demonstrating further progress in response to a recommendation from the Sustainable Health Review.
The WA government has allocated $3.6 million to establish this role within WA Health, with the investment being supported by a State-wide consultation process led by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer.
AHPs are now nationally accredited and registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
In order to further expand this specialty within the workforce, WA Health is collaborating with Aboriginal community-controlled health services and Aboriginal registered training organisations to increase the number of AHPs.
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said she hopes the new Aboriginal Health Practitioner speciality will help improve the delivery of culturally appropriate care at our hospitals.
"AHPs can provide clinical and primary healthcare, as well as case management and care planning, making this role an important addition to highly skilled multi-disciplinary teams within our public health service," she said.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti said that the significant gap in life expectancy of Aboriginal Western Australians is far greater than to other Australians.
"It is important our emergency departments are places where First Nations people feel comfortable and supported and the new AHP role will greatly assist with this," Dr Buti said.
Rockingham MLA Magenta Marshall said that it's "fantastic" that RGH is the first hospital to welcome two Aboriginal Health Practitioner Appointments.
"Rockingham General Hospital is integral to the healthcare landscape of our community and the Cook Government is committed to ensuring it continues to meet the needs of patients now and into the future," she said.
