This unit describes the required skills and knowledge to develop and implement strategies to address social determinants that underpin and contribute to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health issues in the context of delivering primary health care services.

The unit applies to those Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers working independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team to deliver primary health care services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities.

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role.

There must be evidence that the candidate has:

supported, promoted and implemented at least one strategy to improve the health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people by:

assessing how social determinants impact health and how their impact may be reduced

building and maintaining relationships with community groups, agencies and organisations involved in developing and implementing strategic initiatives impacting on the health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

communicating effectively with stakeholders and clients, including:

investigating and explaining strategic initiatives (including negative aspects) to individuals and groups

facilitating discussions

contributing to the evaluation of strategic initiatives undertaken

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role.

This includes knowledge of:

social, cultural and environmental determinants of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health, including:

traditional cultural practices and lifestyle and their impact on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health

importance of land, tradition and cultural practice

impact of socio-economic factors on health

social and political factors that perpetuate disadvantage

importance of personal achievement, education and supportive family /social networks

impact of environmental factors on health

barriers to improving environmental determinants of ill-health

ways to address access and equity issues, such as:

strategies families may employ to maintain strong culture and supportive social networks as well as maximising educational, employment and social opportunities for their children

political context of the health care system and availability and access to Medicare benefits

aspects of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health, including:

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community perceptions of major health issues affecting them, and underlying causes

perceptions of non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people relating to major Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health issues and underlying causes

key health statistics (national, state and/or local), such as:

life expectancy at birth

infant mortality rate

age-standardised mortality ratios for selected health conditions

incidence of selected health conditions such as diabetes, rheumatic fever and dental caries

lifestyle and behavioural determinants and strategies to address them, including:

food supply in communities, to support nutrition and holistic health

nutrition, physical activity, rest and sleep in relation to holistic health

known behaviours that pose significant health risk

lifestyle practices and effects on health

education and promotion of healthy lifestyle practices

principles of wellbeing applied to work and study practices

primary health care model.

Skills must be demonstrated working:

in a health service or centre

individually or as a member of a multidisciplinary primary health care team

with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities.

In addition, simulations and scenarios must be used where the full range of contexts and situations cannot be provided in the workplace or may occur only rarely. These are situations relating to emergency or unplanned procedures where assessment in these circumstances would be unsafe or is impractical.

Simulated assessment environments must simulate the real-life working environment where these skills and knowledge would be performed, with all the relevant equipment and resources of that working environment.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

Assessment must be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in this unit of competency and who is:

an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker

or:

accompanied by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care.