This qualification reflects the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners. It is specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who work as part of a multidisciplinary health care team providing primary health care services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities.

They provide culturally safe health and wellbeing promotion, preventative health care and clinical treatment services in a diversity of locations including urban, rural, and remote settings.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners use initiative and judgement within the parameters of practice standards, treatment protocols and clinical supervision arrangements established by the employing organisation.

This qualification provides a pathway to work in a range of health care settings including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community organisations, and the public or private health sector.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners are registered with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia (ATSIHPBA) and, only when registered, can use the protected title of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health practitioner. However, registration is not automatically linked to an individual’s certification in this qualification. Current requirements for practitioners to complete an accredited program of study, and how training organisations accredit their program, should be checked with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Accreditation Committee (ATSIHPAC).

• Aboriginal Health Worker in Community Health

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers may perform their work roles in a range of settings:

• Government Health clinics, services, and hospitals.
• Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations
  (ACCHOs).
• Rural and remote locations, either through these services, or as visiting services.

Job roles of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health workers vary greatly from the roles and responsibilities of other health care professionals in that there is a blurring between the professional and private. Strong links with the community and environment means that often Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health workers may also find themselves utilising specific skills and knowledge as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. This may include acting as communicators and interpreters on behalf of clients and other health care professionals, providing cultural education to people outside of the community and culture, and providing health education and treatment in terms of tradition healing. It is important for employers to acknowledge these additional roles, which can fall outside the realm of strict primary health care.

To achieve HLT40221 Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice a total of 19 units of competency must be completed comprising of 14 core and 5 elective units as detailed in the packaging rules and listed below.

The core units are mandatory. The elective units have been selected following consultation with local industry requirements. The elective units may vary between delivery locations.

Core Units (14 required)

Elective Units (5 units required)

Students who are Northern Territory (NT) residents and wish to enrol in a course that is subsidised by the Northern Territory and/or Commonwealth Government will be charged fees.

The fees will be charged at:

• $2.20 per nominal hour for enrolment

Students are eligible to apply for a fee exemption in accordance with Fee Exemption rules for the relevant year
More information regarding course fees and paying course fees can be found on the Fees page on the Batchelor Institute website

The learner must provide the following materials and equipment:

• Basic stationery—paper, pencil, pen

Literacy and Numeracy
When you enrol in a course at Batchelor Institute, you should be able to speak, read and write in English at the level required for the course you are undertaking. If you need help improving your literacy and numeracy skills, there are specific courses and other assistance available.

Minimum age for students
Students must meet the minimum age requirement to be able to enrol with Batchelor Institute. The minimum age will depend on several factors.

Where:

• Training is delivered in a regional or remote community, and the student no longer engages and/or participates in secondary schooling, the student must be 15 years or older at the time training commences
  
• Training is delivered on the Batchelor Campus or Desert People Centre Campus, and where the student attends training during the day, but are not accommodated overnight, the student must be 17 years or older at the time training commences; or
  
• Training is delivered in any location, and the student requires to be travelled by Batchelor Institute to a training delivery location, the student must be 18 years or older at the time training commences.

You will need to apply to ABSTUDY once you have enrolled at Batchelor Institute so your travel can be arranged (if travel is applicable). To do this you will need to obtain a VET Enrolment and Fees Invoice from the Institute and then take it to your nearest Centrelink Office, to complete an ABSTUDY application.

The Away from Base (AFB) Mixed-Mode program supports Indigenous students who are studying an approved mixed-mode course by distance education to access compulsory course elements in another location away from their permanent home for short periods of time.

A ‘mixed-mode’ AFB course is a nationally accredited course that is delivered through a combination of distance education and face-to-face residential teaching. AFB contributes towards the costs of travel, meals and accommodation.

If you have to attend a workshop away from your home, are in receipt of ABSTUDY and are enrolled in an ABSTUDY approved course, your travel, accommodation and meals will be organised by Batchelor Institute.

Batchelor Institute recognises the importance of skills and knowledge that you may already have. You may have gained these through other work or study you have done or through life experience.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process that tries to match these skills and knowledge to the outcomes of your course to assess whether you have achieved the required learning outcomes. If you think you are eligible for RPL, contact us for more information.

Batchelor Institute also recognises qualifications and statements of attainments gained from any other Australian Registered Training Organisation, where nationally accredited training has been undertaken. This form of recognition may include Credit Transfers.

Students who have been identified as needing extra support services besides those already identified will have the extra support identified within their individual training plan and the support services will be arranged accordingly.

Student Support
Freecall: 1800 677 095 | Email: student.support@batchelor.edu.au

Timetables for students attending workshops at the Batchelor or Desert Peoples Centre Campuses can be found here.

Batchelor Institute offers many VET courses across a range of different disciplines. You can study courses relating to community services, construction, health, business, education, resource and infrastructure and creative arts. To get more information about Batchelor Institute and the courses we offer, click here.

Please visit: https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/HLT40221/qualdetails

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