INDIGENOUS HEALTH PROJECT OFFICER

The Indigenous Health Project Officer 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 Pilbara region.

LOCATION
Roebourne with travel within the Pilbara

LINE MANAGER

Senior Medical Officer

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:45pm with 45minutes (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 role of the Indigenous Health Project Officer is to provide leadership on Indigenous Health issues in the Pilbara in order to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s access to high quality, culturally appropriate health care, including care coordination services. This role has an objective of assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) people in the Pilbara, not just Mawarnkarra Health Service patients.

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES

• Motivation to provide leadership on indigenous health issues (inclusive of understanding of Medicare care items and health care strategies for ATSI people)
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Good interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal)
• Ability to effectively negotiate, persuade and undertake both formal and informal presentations on indigenous health issues
• Sound analytical ability and report writing skill
• Comprehensive understanding of culturally appropriate health care as it applies to the people of the Pilbara
• A demonstrated capacity to improve skills in working effectively, positively and collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to prioritise workload and demonstrated organisational skills
• Commitment to ongoing participation in education, professional development, evidence based research and quality assurance

DUTIES

1. Education and health promotion

• Working with the Senior Medical Officer, Business Development Manager on the regional guidance and strategic direction for the Integrated Team Care Program (ITC) and team (inclusive of sub-contracted team members) in the Pilbara.
• Developing & implementing a coordinated team-based approach to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health, especially between the IHPO & Care Coordinator positions within the ITC Program.
• Noting that some of these team members may not be directly employed by MHS and instead support ITC through a subcontract arrangement.
• Supporting the Care Coordinator within the ITC Program.
• Increasing awareness of and maximising links between services for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people, including those provided by Commonwealth and state/territory governments, AMSs and other organisations.
• Developing and implementing a coordinated team-based approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, especially between the IHPO & Care Coordinator position.
• Increasing awareness of and maximising links between services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including those provided by Commonwealth and state/territory governments, AMSs, and other organisations;
• Facilitate working relationships and communication exchange between mainstream organisations, AMSs and their peak bodies;
• Developing and implementing strategies to improve access to mainstream primary care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including through outreach programmes such as the Medical Outreach – Indigenous Chronic Disease Programme (MOICDP), the Rural Health Outreach Fund (RHOF), and the Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS);
• Developing and implementing strategies to improve the capacity of mainstream primary care providers to deliver culturally appropriate primary care services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including: Self-identification & uptake of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific MBS items including item 715 Health Assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, care planning and follow up items;

– Increasing awareness and understanding of the COAG targets to close the gap in Indigenous disadvantage

– Collaborating with local Indigenous health services and mainstream health services in a partnership approach for the delivery of primary care services.

2. Administrative duties

• Ensure all care provided to a client is entered into the client data management system.
• Ensure statistics and all data is accurate and up-to-date.
• Reporting of information related to the ITC Program contracted by MHS, under direction of the Business Development Manager.

3. Quality improvement activities

• Participate in continual quality improvement in the delivery of client services.
• Ensure all standards are maintained consistent with evidence based best practice standards as applicable to the role of Indigenous Health Project Officer.

4. Professional responsibilities

• Work in collaboration with the Care Coordinators and Outreach Workers on relevant issues.
• Maintain the highest standards of professional conduct.
• Participate in and contribute to the successful outcomes of the organisation.
• Participate in research activities within the services as required.
• Participate in maintaining a safe working environment.
• Undertake travel as required to perform duties of this role.
• Perform other reasonable duties as directed by your line manager.

EDUCATION

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

Undertake the defensive driver-training course on commencement of employment and three yearly thereafter.

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

Performance will be appraised on an on-going basis and formally at the first 3 months and annually thereafter.

Consent to undergo a Working With Children Check and a National Police Certificate. Employment is conditional pending the outcome of these checks.

Current full Drivers 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.