Aboriginal Health roles at Justice Health NSW
Aboriginal health careers and support
First Nations peoples work in various roles across Justice Health NSW to provide healthcare to patients in custody and the Forensic Hospital. While First Nations peoples can work within any position in Justice Health NSW, there are also clinical and non-clinical identified roles in Justice Health NSW that only Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples can apply for.
As a First Nations employee, regardless of whether you are in an identified position or not, you will have access to support during orientation and throughout your employment with Justice Health NSW to ensure your experience is positive.
The Workforce Development Coordinator, Aboriginal Health Unit, will be able to assist in connecting you with the Aboriginal Health Unit team, Aboriginal workforce, cultural supervision sessions, and training and development pathways for your chosen career.
All staff undertake 'Respecting the Difference' training to ensure that First Nations patients are welcomed to a culturally respectful environment.
Visit NSW Health's Aboriginal Workforce in NSW Health Resources.
“As an Aboriginal person working in a centre that is built on my country, I have a commitment and passion to serve and support my Mob and the Mob from other areas. We also educate the clinical team we work with about our people and the best way to engage and provide those services.”
Justice Health NSW Aboriginal Health Worker.
Aboriginal Health Unit
The Aboriginal Health Unit is a strategy and engagement-focused unit within Justice Health NSW that is responsible for improving Aboriginal Health service outcomes and strengthening the Aboriginal workforce.
This unit will be able to collaborate with your line manager and the People and Culture Unit to assist in providing cultural leadership and engage cultural resources that you may require throughout your employment.
Aboriginal Workforce
The Aboriginal workforce within Justice Health NSW is statewide.
To connect the workforce, all First Nations employees are encouraged to attend the annual Aboriginal Workforce Forum and the bi-monthly Aboriginal Workforce Meetings. These are both regular opportunities to meet staff, discuss issues and ideas, and share in each other's work experiences and achievements.
Yamarrah Clinical and Cultural Supervision
These are individual confidential sessions facilitated by Yamarrah, an external organisation to Justice Health NSW. They are there to have a yarn when needed and aim to support the wellbeing of Aboriginal staff by balancing work and cultural demands. These sessions are not mandatory but are recommended.
Waminda Aboriginal Family Health Worker Service
Justice Health NSW first collaborated with Waminda in 2017 and continues to collaborate to this day.
Together, we aim to provide Aboriginal women and their families an opportunity to belong and receive quality health and well-being support, with the aim to reduce family violence in their communities.
Aboriginal Chronic Care Program (Integrated Care Services)
Our enrolled nurses and Aboriginal health workers undertake chronic condition screening of every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patient. This includes looking at the patient’s medical history, medication history, respiratory function, cardiovascular function, urinalysis and, where required, relevant blood and liver testing.
Patients identified as having chronic or complex health issues are referred to the relevant services and are enrolled with the Integrated Care Program to ensure the continual monitoring and management of their conditions. Patients who are not identified as having current chronic or complex health conditions at the time of assessment are re-evaluated annually.
Our initiatives
Each year, our centres host various health promotion activities to encourage Aboriginal patients to be engaged and involved in their health. Our commitment to improving health outcomes and closing the gap means that we strive to identify health conditions early and deliver interventions in a culturally responsive manner.
We are dedicated to closing the gap by improving the health care experiences of our Aboriginal patients. Our goal is to foster a culturally safe environment where Aboriginal patients feel valued, respected and understood. Through collaborative partnerships with Aboriginal communities, we strive to develop tailored healthcare programs and services that address the unique challenges and barriers faced by these patients.
We celebrate NAIDOC week each year as an opportunity to share stories and successes.
In past years, these celebrations have involved both staff and patients and have included:
- yarning and gathering groups
- art, music and dance performances
- bush tucker morning teas
- acknowledgement of country and smoking ceremonies.
Justice Health NSW collaborates with Corrective Services NSW in facilitating opportunities to create a more equitable system that ensures every Aboriginal individual receives quality care.
The annual Health Care in Secure Settings conference focuses on the niche field of health care in custodial and forensic mental health settings.
Over two days, delegates hear from a range of international and national speakers on key issues, innovations, reforms, and best practice care in correctional, detention and secure mental health inpatient settings.
This unique conference has been designed for and by health professionals working in these highly specialised environments.
Contact us
Workforce Development Coordinator, Aboriginal Health Unit
Email: JHFMHN-AboriginalWorkforce@health.nsw.gov.au
Contact Justice Health NSW Recruitment
Email: JHFMHN-Talent@health.nsw.gov.au
Post: PO Box 150, Matraville NSW 2036
Phone:(02) 9700 3000