On September 1, 2011, Katherine West staff and board members attended the AMSANT Launch for the "Year of the Aboriginal Health Worker". We were proud that our Honorary Board Member, and the NT's first Aboriginal Health Worker, Jack Little from Bulla Community, was chosen to be a patron for the activities of the year ahead. (see photos below)

Katherine West Health Board places a significant priority on building the numbers and skills of Aboriginal people in the health workforce. We believe effective support and training for the Aboriginal Health Worker (AHW) profession is central to achieving this goal.  However, we have grave concerns in 2011 that not enough is being done to address current deficiencies in training and professional development, and we fear that our young people are not being attracted to take up AHW careers as a consequence.

Katherine West currently supports the following number of senior and training Aboriginal Health Workers in our communities:

• 1x Trainee Aboriginal Health Worker, Timber Creek
• 2x Aboriginal Health Workers, Bulla
• 2x Aboriginal Health Workers, Yarralin
• 1x Trainee Aboriginal Health Workers, Yarralin
• 1x Aboriginal Health Worker, Pigeon Hole
• 1x Aboriginal Health Worker, Kalkaringi

So in this "Year of the Aboriginal Health Worker", KWHB renews our call to relevant authorities to carefully consider these recommendations, which are made by people with vast experience working in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector here in the Northern Territory.

Long Term Recommendations:

1. Decentralisation of training institutes/campuses away from Batchelor to regional centres such as Darwin, Gove, Jabiru, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs. The township of Batchelor is too far away from our remote communities.
2. A health stream for Vocational Education and Training (VET) is required in ALL SCHOOLS, not just some. It must be available in all schools.
3. There needs to be provision for AHW apprenticeshipsso that trainees can receive a viable wage while undertaking training.
4. Training facilities and infrastructure for lecturers and tutors to use when visiting trainees in their communities.
5. Priority housing is identified for AHWs.

SHORT TERM RECOMMENDATIONS, specific to THE KATHERINE WEST health REGION

1. Provision for 2 community based tutors/training support/mentorships (one male/one female) in remote communities with associated on costs. These jobs and related funding need to be allocated to an Aboriginal Medical Service, in this case Katherine West Health Board and our two largest communities, which have been declared by the Northern Territory Government to be "Growth Towns" – Lajamanu and Kalkaringi.
2. Funding to be made available for lecturersfrom Batchelor Institute to travel to Lajamanu and Kalkaringi.

We are seeking viable solutions to these issues, as it is our belief that skilled AHWs are vital to providing holistic health care in a community setting.