Media Release – ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ALLIED HEALTH WORKFORCE LEADING INTO THE FUTURE.

30 November 2018

Today Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) and the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet (HealthInfoNet) released the first of a series of films showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health professionals. The films are focused on promoting allied health workforce development including allied health careers, support available and needed for success with individuals sharing their experiences from a cultural and professional perspective who are contributing to an inter-professional leadership approach to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The first film titled ‘Leading in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health’ was launched at the International Indigenous Allied Health Forum in Sydney – the first event of its kind hosted by IAHA. The Forum is hosting many First Nations visitors, welcomed from North America, Canada, the Pacific, and New Zealand. The film demonstrates the importance of investing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the allied health workforce and how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates and students are leading in the sector.

“Sharing the films with our communities, stakeholders and our International guests will showcase the commitment our workforce has in addressing racism in the health and education sectors, valuing and respecting the critical role that allied health graduates and students can play” said IAHA CEO, Donna Murray.

Ms Murray said “The purpose of the video project was to capture stories and vital information from allied health students and graduates on their successes, challenges and career development enablers. These stories will be key resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities considering a health career and for employers looking to improve their cultural safety and responsiveness in ensuring high quality services and workforce development strategies, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples”.

“IAHA has had a long standing partnership with HealthInfoNet, who have been a significant leaders in sharing and supporting Indigenous Health research and policy and are vital partners in transforming systems” said Ms Murray.

HealthInfoNet Director, Professor Neil Drew, said “We were delighted to work with IAHA, to meet inspiring people who are shaping their journeys in different ways and different professions, but who will actually deliver the improvements in health that have been talked about for so long. We’re proud to be delivering resources to support them and increase their impact in and for communities. We’ve been developing a strong in-house film capability. The team co-created the films with IAHA and we are delighted the first in the series has been shared today, with an Australian and international audience”.

The rest of the series will be released throughout 2019 and will be available on the IAHA website https://iaha.com.au/ and the IAHA YouTube channel and the HealthInfoNet site https://healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/learn/health-facts/multimedia-knowledge-exchange-products/

Spokespersons: Professor Neil Drew – HealthInfoNet Director Tel: 08 9370 6155

Mob: 0418 901 468 Email: n.drew@ecu.edu.au

Donna Murray – CEO IAHA Tel: 02 6285 1010   Mob: 0428 473 084 Email: donna@iaha.com.au

HealthInfoNet Media contact: Tara Hoyne – Tel: 08 9370 6109   Email: t.hoyne@ecu.edu.au