Health worker traineeship a pathway full of potential

Cleavon (CJ) wasn’t clear on his career path after leaving high school but felt a strong pull toward working with community. Volunteering with Deadly Choices reaffirmed his interest in community health, steering him toward an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Traineeship with ATSICHS Brisbane in March 2023.

The young Bidjarra, Kalkadoon and Waanyi man is studying a Certificate III in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care in parallel with completing the traineeship program at our Northgate clinic.

“Helping our people out is what motivates me. I hear a lot of stories through Elders or other mob and I want to understand them and what they go through.”

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers combine clinical skills with cultural understanding, playing an important role by acting as a conduit between medical services and community, ensuring patients feel culturally safe, facilitating communication and helping to achieve better health outcomes. 

“I think the Aboriginal Health Worker role is really important. At the Northgate clinic we have a lot of people come from the outback who have been through lore with strong cultural backgrounds. It’s important to have someone in the clinic who is aware of all those things as it’s helpful for our patients to have someone who understands them,” Cleavon (CJ) said.

Learning and Development Advisor Maryam said that ATSICHS Brisbane has been providing training opportunities to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples since 2011.

“Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traineeship program is the quickest pathway to become a qualified worker and be ready to start your career.”

“For those employees who have successfully completed their traineeships, many remain employed with ATSICHS Brisbane and have progressed to other roles or higher levels.”

If you know someone who may be interested in completing a traineeship, they can register their interest with our Learning and Development team (traineeships@atsichsbrisbane.org.au) and be contacted when opportunities arise.