S.TRUEMAN PhD THESIS 2016

29

registration, the minimum standard (or equivalent) is a Certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Healthcare. The AIHW (2013) reported that 231 registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners were employed in Australia in 2012. Of this workforce, 142 were employed in Aboriginal health services. Table 1.11 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers, 2012 (Source: Health Workforce Australia, Allied Health Practitioners, AIHW, 2013)

Major Cities

Inner Regional Outer Regional

Remote/ Very Remote

Number

7

9

73

142 29.7

FTE per 100,000 population

—

0.2

3.6

As at June 2015, AHPRA advised that there were 390 registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners, of which 55% were employed in the Northern Territory, 14% in New South Wales, 12% in Queensland and 12% in Western Australia. Many more than this number are actually working in Australia as ‘health workers’ who commenced working prior to June 2012 and do not have the minimum qualification for registration. For example, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Association (NATSIHWA) reports on their website that they have approximately 800 members. 1.6.9.6 Other Registered Allied Health Practitioners in the Field There are five reasons for including allied health practitioners in this study. First, allied health professions exist in the remote health field and hence are examinable in