A GROUP of Aboriginal health workers from the central and far west have just undertaken a training component at Orange TAFE campus to better develop their skills to serve their communities at a higher level in health care.
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Orange TAFE campus is co-ordinating the Certificate 4 in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Course, and it’s a venture reaping strong results.
“This is an incredibly challenging course and we are absolutely thrilled with the retention rates which are very high - between 80 and 85 per cent,” head teacher Jenny Hazelton said.
“Particularly with the maths component we have set the bar high and students have to achieve 100 per cent in maths, which they have done,” Mrs Hazelton said.
Mrs Hazelton said TAFE is working closely with the Western Local Health District to deliver the course.
“We have had a wonderful support and it is a great working relationship along with the partnership we have set up with the Aboriginal Medical Service and Medicare Local,” she said.
She said Orange’s Wiradjuri elders played a pivotal role in the success of the recent practical block at Orange donating their time so they could be used for simulated health assessments.
“They are living treasures and we are so grateful for their input,” Mrs Hazelton said.
Mrs Hazelton said the current group of students who are halfway through their course are already employed in the health industry but are looking to expand their skills to work in their particular communities.
For the last six years TAFE Western has been delivering training in Aboriginal Health to students across Western NSW.
This latest training block component of the course took place in the Winhanganha Learning Centre on the Orange TAFE campus.
“These health workers will be future leaders in closing the gap for indigenous health,” Mrs Hazelton said.