Indigenous Health Workforce Traineeships program

About the program

The Indigenous Health Workforce Traineeships (IHWT) program started in 2020–21 and is funded until 2026-27.

The program aims to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health through building the capacity of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) to employ a skilled workforce and provide culturally appropriate health care to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

Goals

The IHWT program aims to:

• increase the number of skilled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in the primary health care sector
• create culturally supportive and viable learning and career pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• build the capacity of ACCHSs to provide culturally appropriate care.

Why this is important

This initiative supports the:

• National Agreement on Closing the Gap 2020
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2021-2031 
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan 2021-2031 
• National Skills Agreement 
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Framework 
• Australia's Disability Strategy

Who we work with

The IHWT program is administered by 7 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health organisations. These organisations: 

• work with ACCHSs in their state or territory 
• support the ACCHSs to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainees to gain a qualification and to get the skills and experience they need to provide comprehensive primary care that meets the health needs of the community. 

The following fact sheets provide information on the Indigenous Health Workforce Traineeship Program (IHWT) and the First Nations Health Worker Traineeship Program (FNHWT).

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