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Program description

The measure “ Improving the Capacity of Workers in Indigenous Communities ”, comprises of $20.8 million over 5 years to train Aboriginal Health Workers, counsellors, clinical and administrative staff in Aboriginal Health Services to recognise and treat mental illness, including drug and alcohol problems.

Aboriginal Health Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will benefit from increased access to trained professionals and better referral and treatment options through the following initiatives:

  • Training for 840 Aboriginal Health Workers, counsellors and clinical staff to recognise and treat mental illness, including drug and alcohol problems;
  • Training in mental health first aid for 350 transport and administration staff located in Aboriginal Health Services who manage clients on presentation to services;
  • The creation of 25 scholarships for Indigenous students under the Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme, specifically to undertake studies in the mental health discipline; and
  • The creation of ten additional mental health worker positions.

To support the measure the Social Health Section will develop:

  • a training program to recognise and address mental illness;
  • provision of Mental Health First Aid training;
  • new mental health worker positions and associated infrastructure;
  • a mental health multi-media resource;
  • a mental health textbook; and
  • culturally appropriate mental health assessment tools.

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  Expert Reference Group

OATSIH has formed an Expert Reference Group to provide advice throughout the implementation of the above projects. Membership comprises key stakeholders from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and mental health sectors including the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), the Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association (AIDA), the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses (CATSIN), the Australian Psychological Society (APS), the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and the Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA). Meetings are usually held quarterly.

Training program to recognise and address mental illness

The culturally appropriate mental health training program aims to address mental health, drug and alcohol and co-morbidity issues, suicide, grief and loss issues and interventions. OATSIH has engaged the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council Limited to develop a five-day in-service training program for Aboriginal Health Workers. The program will be flexible and adaptable to local circumstances. Once the program is developed, it will be offered to 840 Aboriginal Health Workers, counsellors and clinical staff. The mental health training program will be delivered through Registered Training Organisations. It is anticipated that the program will be developed by April 2008.

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Provision of Mental Health First Aid Training

OATSIH has engaged the ORYGEN Research Centre, based at the School of Psychiatry , University of Melbourne in Victoria , to provide mental health first aid training to front-line staff working in a range of Aboriginal health services. 120 scholarships have been offered to services nationally to provide a 5 day instructor training to instructors to deliver the 2 day mental health first aid course. Approximately 350 support staff will receive the instructor training to train a further 840 Aboriginal Health Workers, counsellors, clinic staff and community members. It is expected that the workshops will be completed in April 2008.

Mental health multi-media resource

In June 2007, OATSIH commissioned Wodonga TAFE to develop a range of mental health literacy, health promotion and training resources for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce. Many of the resources that are currently utilised by clinicians in mental health have little cross-cultural validity. It has become necessary to develop resources to make them culturally sensitive for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These resources will have applicability across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia. It is anticipated that this project will be completed by June 2008.

Mental health textbook

In September 2007, OATSIH engaged the Australian Council for Educational Research Limited to develop a mental health textbook relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultures for use by health professionals and students in the vocational and tertiary education training sectors nationally. The development of an Indigenous mental health textbook will ensure that both the current and future mental health workforce (including VET and Tertiary Education students) have the appropriate resources to successfully work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and individuals.

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Culturally appropriate mental health assessment tools

OATSIH proposes to commission the development of a range of culturally appropriate mental health assessment tools for health professionals undertaking mental health assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including those with co-morbidities of mental health issues in conjunction with substance use issues. Development of this project is currently under consideration by OATSIH.

New Mental Health Workers and associated capital infrastructure

This project provides funding for ten additional mental health worker positions nationally. These mental health workers will provide mental health counselling and support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities.

Mental health workers will be located in the following sites:

  • Normanton (QLD),
  • Kununurra and Derby (WA),
  • Yalata and the Anangu Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Lands (SA);
  • Tiwi Island , Galiwinku, Alice Springs and Wadeye (NT); and
  • Launceston (Tas).

Sites in Galiwinku, Wadeye, Yalata and Anangu have been identified to receive capital works funding under the Measure, to construct houses to accommodate their mental health workers. Construction of houses has not yet commenced. OATSIH will establish a capital works funding agreement for the construction of houses in the near future.

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Further information

More information is available on the Australian Government's Mental Health and Wellbeing website.

Queries in regard to OATSIH's implementation of projects under the measure, Improving the Capacity of Workers in Indigenous Communities , may be directed to OATSIH general enquiries:

  • Postal address:
    Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
    MDP 17
    Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
    GPO Box 9848
    Canberra  ACT   2601
  • Street Address:
    Level 4 Penrhyn House
    Bowes Street
    Woden ACT 2606
  • Ph: (02) 6289 5291
    Fax: (02) 6289 1412
    Email: oatsih.enquiries@health.gov.au
    Website: OATSIH

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Last updated: 19 February, 2008