Skip to content
Skip to navigation

Understanding Stress and Staying Strong in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Human Services Workforce

  • Description
    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce report stressful working conditions. The purpose of this research is to explore the multilevel challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and human services’ workforce and the individual and collective attributes that enable them to stay strong in the presence of stressful working conditions. The project is Aboriginal-led and guided by a national governance panel of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce representatives. The project involves in-depth yarning with workforce across metropolitan, regional and remote locations and expert roundtable discussions with workforce, peak body representatives and government further examine strategies to support workforce to stay strong.

    Understandings from yarning and roundtable discussions informed the development of guidelines for workers and organisations to drive improvements in the working lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce and their broader communities. A Guide for Workforce “Sharing Our Ways of Staying Strong” elaborates on the ways Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers overcome challenges and stay strong. The Guide for Management “Valuing and Strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforce” outlines examples of how organisations can provide more supportive working environments and conditions to enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce to thrive.
  • Regions in scope
    National
  • Funding entity
    Lowitja Institute
  • Research/evaluation entity
    Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Equity, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI)
  • Status
    Underway
  • Start date
    2018
  • End date
    2019
  • Released to public
    Yes
  • Categories
    Social and emotional wellbeing