ABORIGINAL OUTREACH WORKER

The Aboriginal Outreach Worker is part of the Clinic Team of Mawarnkarra Health Service. The service’s objective is to provide holistic, primary health care services to the Aboriginal people of the West Pilbara region.

LOCATION
Roebourne with travel within the Pilbara

LINE MANAGER

Clinical Manager

• Our hours of operation are Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:45pm
• 15 hours per week with 45 minutes (unpaid) for lunch daily.
• You are to be ready for work no later than 8:30am daily.

Other conditions of employment are identified in your contract for employment.

All Mawarnkarra employees are required to comply with all policies in force at the time of commencement of employment and those implemented from time to time.

As part of the orientation program, employees are required to sign declarations and agreement pursuant to policies of the Health Service.

POSITION OBJECTIVE

The ITC Aboriginal Outreach Worker will contribute to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic health conditions through access to care coordination, multidisciplinary care, and support for self-management; and Improve access to culturally appropriate mainstream primary care services (including but not limited to general practice, allied health and specialists) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES

• Contribute to better treatment and management of chronic conditions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enrolled on the program;
• Improve access to appropriate health care through care coordination and provision of supplementary services for eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic disease;
• Foster collaboration and support between the mainstream primary care and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector;
• Improve the capacity of mainstream primary care services to deliver culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; and
• Increase the uptake of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items, including Health Assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and follow up items.

DUTIES

1. General duties:

• Community liaison: establish links with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to promote the importance of improving health outcomes and encourage and support the increased use of health services. This includes MBS Health Assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and MBS care planning and follow-up items. They should also identify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who would benefit from improved access to these health services;
• Administration and support: assist the IHPO to identify barriers to health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people;
• Provide practical assistance: provide assistance to identified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to access services and attend appointments (including GP care planning, follow-up care, specialist services and community pharmacies); and
• Provide feedback regarding access problems: provide feedback to the PHN regarding barriers to health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and, in conjunction with the IHPO, work to implement solutions.

2. Manage client files:

• Maintain confidentiality in all aspects of record keeping.
• Records all data on clients as required by Mawarnkarra.

3. Program responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the ITC Program’s IHPO, to help 

• Assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to travel to and from appointments;
• Encouraging and assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to:
• Attend appointments with referred specialist services and Care Coordinators, as necessary;
• Attend appointments for relevant diagnostic tests and /or referrals to other primary health care providers (including allied health);
• Collect prescribed medications from the pharmacist;
• Return for follow up appointments with their GP and/or practice nurse; and
• Fill out forms and understand instructions from reception staff.
• Encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to:
• Identify their Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander status; and
• Register for a Medicare card.
• Distributing information/resources to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities about services that are available to/for them, and encouraging them to use primary health care services in their region;
• Encouraging and helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to attend appointments with GPs, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Assessments and care planning;
• Providing support for outreach/visiting health professionals where required;
• Distributing information to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about how to access available services (e.g. care coordination, PBS co-payment).
• Travel occasionally to Onslow and Bindi Bindi to provide transport and outreach services;

4. Professional responsibilities:

• Maintain the highest standards of professional conduct.
• Participate in and contribute to the fulfilment of operational needs of the organisation as they arise.
• Demonstrate an understanding of and compliance with all Mawarnkarra policies and procedures.
• Participate in maintaining a safe working environment.
• Other duties as directed by management.

EDUCATION

Attend and participate in the professional development program and relevant external seminars and conferences, as approved.

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

Consent to undergo a Working with Children Check and a National Police Certificate if required by the employer and if required, employment is conditional pending the outcome of these checks.

Current valid driver’s Licence.

All employees are required to adhere to Smoking policy and be willing to undertake a random drug and alcohol screening.

Please email your resume and application for a role through to hrofficer@mhs.org.au. You will receive confirmation that your application has been received. Should we progress your application to interview, we will contact you to arrange.

MHS may commence appointment proceedings immediately, appoint by invitation or make no appointment at all. This opportunity is only open to candidates with the right to work in Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.