• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professional organisations
• Training opportunities for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce
• Health scholarships specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Other scholarships available
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework 2016-2023
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professional organisations

The Australian Government provides funding to the following organisations to provide advice and support for the health workforce they represent and participate in the development and implementation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce policy, priorities and programmes. These organisations also play a leading role in broader initiatives that assist in achieving the goal of closing the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

• Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association - the national health professional organisation representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical practitioners and students
• Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives - the national health professional organisation representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives, and nursing and midwifery students
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Association - the national health professional organisation representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners
• Indigenous Allied Health Australia - the national health professional organisation representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health practitioners and students
• Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education network - a network to ensure the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning of Indigenous health in medical education and curricula as well as best practice in the recruitment and retention of Indigenous medical students

Training opportunities for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce

The Australian Government funds scholarship programmes to:

• encourage and assist students in health-related disciplines to complete their studies and join the health workforce; and
• support health professionals with continuing professional development and postgraduate studies.

Health scholarships specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

• Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme - a scholarship programme designed to encourage and assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander undergraduate students in health-related disciplines to complete their studies and join the health workforce.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme - a scholarship programme designed to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to undertake undergraduate or graduate studies in pharmacy at university.
• Australian Rotary Indigenous Health Scholarships – a scholarship programme to assist Indigenous students with their day-to-day expenses while they undertake a course in a wide range of health related professions.

Other scholarships available

The 2015-16 Budget announced a new Health Workforce Scholarship Programme (HWSP).

The HWSP is on hold pending the outcome of government considerations on how to implement the 2015-16 Budget and 2016 MYEFO saves to the Health Workforce Fund. Existing arrangements with scholarship holders continue to be met.

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework 2016-2023

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework (2016-2023) is a mechanism to guide national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce policy and planning. It focuses on prioritisation, target setting and monitoring of progress against growing and developing the capacity of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework supports higher education providers to implement Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander curricula across their health professional training programmes. The Framework aims to prepare graduates across health professions to provide culturally-safe health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through the development of cultural capabilities during their undergraduate training.