This unit describes the required skills and knowledge to plan, advocate for, monitor and manage the provision of health services and programs to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities.

This unit applies to senior Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers overseeing clinical aspects of the delivery of primary health care services and/or managing the overall delivery of primary health care services and programs 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:

planned and managed the delivery of at least one health care service and/or program to effectively address the needs of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities, including:

consulting with the community as part of review and revision of services to identify and implement service improvements as an ongoing process

advocating on behalf the primary health care service to:

promote services and programs

seek resources

promote staff

conducting and reporting on research, using analytical skills applied to quantitative and qualitative data

formulating clear, valid and functional recommendations

participating in discussions and negotiations with community members regarding the provision of health services

participating in and monitoring quality assurance programs.

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:

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community primary health needs, treatment options and any associated issues

legislation, organisational guidelines and community requirements relating to health service provision

up-to-date knowledge of principles and practice of primary health care and resources required to address specific community needs

referral resources and processes

traditional health, healing and medicines

individual and community health including biology and development, psychology, disease and treatment options, culture and tradition

key individuals and agencies with local, regional and broader responsibilities related to primary health care provision

evaluation methodology to determine the effectiveness of services delivered.

Skills must be demonstrated working:

in a health service or centre

as a senior member of and/or supervising a primary health care team

with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients.

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