❓ Dr. Woollard questions the adequacy of Aboriginal health worker numbers, suggesting a need for significantly more than the current establishment. Minister Hames acknowledges the shortage and expresses support for increasing the number of AHWs, particularly in remote communities, to improve Aboriginal health outcomes.
AnsweredQoN 569Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES — BUDGET FUNDING
I have a supplementary question. The minister said that he believed there are 23 fewer Aboriginal health workers than are required. I have been told that there should be up to 300 Aboriginal health workers. Will the minister ask the Department of Health to review the number of Aboriginal health workers needed in Western Australia? Dr K.D. HAMES
I have a supplementary question. The minister said that he believed there are 23 fewer Aboriginal health workers than are required. I have been told that there should be up to 300 Aboriginal health workers. Will the minister ask the Department of Health to review the number of Aboriginal health workers needed in Western Australia? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
My briefing notes state — As of 2 April there were 96 Aboriginal health worker (AHW) positions across WA Health. This figure includes positions at all levels, from case work to managerial. Of these 96 positions, 23 were vacant (23.95%), 17% of these vacancies were in the metropolitan area … 83% being scattered across rural and remote locations. That addresses the shortage based on how many Aboriginal health workers we have said we want. What the member is getting to—I agree with her—is that we should employ a lot more than that. Getting Aboriginal people to do Aboriginal health work in those remote communities is a significant way of closing the gap, in my view, and we should employ as many as we can. Point of Order Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The minister appeared to be quoting from an official document, in which case I ask him to table it. Dr K.D. HAMES : There are other things attached to it. I do not think I was quoting from it but there is nothing wrong with tabling the others either. I am happy to table the whole lot. [See paper 1015.]
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: My briefing notes state — As of 2 April there were 96 Aboriginal health worker (AHW) positions across WA Health. This figure includes positions at all levels, from case work to managerial. Of these 96 positions, 23 were vacant (23.95%), 17% of these vacancies were in the metropolitan area … 83% being scattered across rural and remote locations. That addresses the shortage based on how many Aboriginal health workers we have said we want. What the member is getting to—I agree with her—is that we should employ a lot more than that. Getting Aboriginal people to do Aboriginal health work in those remote communities is a significant way of closing the gap, in my view, and we should employ as many as we can. Point of Order Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The minister appeared to be quoting from an official document, in which case I ask him to table it. Dr K.D. HAMES : There are other things attached to it. I do not think I was quoting from it but there is nothing wrong with tabling the others either. I am happy to table the whole lot. [See paper 1015.]
My briefing notes state — As of 2 April there were 96 Aboriginal health worker (AHW) positions across WA Health. This figure includes positions at all levels, from case work to managerial. Of these 96 positions, 23 were vacant (23.95%), 17% of these vacancies were in the metropolitan area … 83% being scattered across rural and remote locations. That addresses the shortage based on how many Aboriginal health workers we have said we want. What the member is getting to—I agree with her—is that we should employ a lot more than that. Getting Aboriginal people to do Aboriginal health work in those remote communities is a significant way of closing the gap, in my view, and we should employ as many as we can. Point of Order Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The minister appeared to be quoting from an official document, in which case I ask him to table it. Dr K.D. HAMES : There are other things attached to it. I do not think I was quoting from it but there is nothing wrong with tabling the others either. I am happy to table the whole lot. [See paper 1015.]
Dr K.D. HAMES : There are other things attached to it. I do not think I was quoting from it but there is nothing wrong with tabling the others either. I am happy to table the whole lot. [See paper 1015.]
[See paper 1015.]
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: My briefing notes state — As of 2 April there were 96 Aboriginal health worker (AHW) positions across WA Health. This figure includes positions at all levels, from case work to managerial. Of these 96 positions, 23 were vacant (23.95%), 17% of these vacancies were in the metropolitan area … 83% being scattered across rural and remote locations. That addresses the shortage based on how many Aboriginal health workers we have said we want. What the member is getting to—I agree with her—is that we should employ a lot more than that. Getting Aboriginal people to do Aboriginal health work in those remote communities is a significant way of closing the gap, in my view, and we should employ as many as we can. Point of Order Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The minister appeared to be quoting from an official document, in which case I ask him to table it. Dr K.D. HAMES : There are other things attached to it. I do not think I was quoting from it but there is nothing wrong with tabling the others either. I am happy to table the whole lot. [See paper 1015.]
My briefing notes state — As of 2 April there were 96 Aboriginal health worker (AHW) positions across WA Health. This figure includes positions at all levels, from case work to managerial. Of these 96 positions, 23 were vacant (23.95%), 17% of these vacancies were in the metropolitan area … 83% being scattered across rural and remote locations. That addresses the shortage based on how many Aboriginal health workers we have said we want. What the member is getting to—I agree with her—is that we should employ a lot more than that. Getting Aboriginal people to do Aboriginal health work in those remote communities is a significant way of closing the gap, in my view, and we should employ as many as we can. Point of Order Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The minister appeared to be quoting from an official document, in which case I ask him to table it. Dr K.D. HAMES : There are other things attached to it. I do not think I was quoting from it but there is nothing wrong with tabling the others either. I am happy to table the whole lot. [See paper 1015.]
Dr K.D. HAMES : There are other things attached to it. I do not think I was quoting from it but there is nothing wrong with tabling the others either. I am happy to table the whole lot. [See paper 1015.]
[See paper 1015.]
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