How to become an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner
Provides culturally safe health care and clinical services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and advises members of health care teams on the cultural needs of clients.
Main tasks
- Ensures members of health care teams are aware of clients' cultural needs when discussing treatment options, including relaying the importance of clients' connections to community and country
- Provides operational leadership to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers
- Facilitates and participates in outreach health services
- Completes comprehensive health assessments, including assessments for people presenting with chronic or communicable disease and acute conditions
- Undertakes screening and triage activities
- Develops, implements and supports self-management health programs
- Provides primary health care to clients
- Explains the purpose, benefits and risks of treatments to clients and their families in a culturally safe way
- Prepares medications, collects blood samples, and administers diagnostic tests, vaccinations and first aid
Ways in
- TAFE and VET: Advanced Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Management (HLT60121); Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Management (HLT50221); Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice (HLT50121); Diploma of Arts and Health (CUA51320); Certificate III in Population Health (HLT36015); Certificate II in Indigenous Environmental Health (HLT26120); Certificate III in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (HLT30121); Certificate III in Indigenous Environmental Health (HLT36115)
- Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $75,920 a year
- About 1,200 people work in this job group now, and about 1,400 are projected by 2035. (+20.2%)
- AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
Related jobs
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker
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- Myotherapist
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner?
Ways in include: Advanced Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Management; Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Management.
How much does an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $75,920 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 20% by 2035, from about 1,200 to about 1,400 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner?
Usually not. Only 13% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Advanced Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Management; Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Management.
Will AI change the work of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner?
AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04