Less men means more problems for crucial Aboriginal health workforce
Gideon Pangiraminni is the first Tiwi Islander Aboriginal health practitioner, but that is not what makes him unique. Read the details.
Northern Territory
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Whether it’s at Indigenous urban health services like Danila Dilba or remote health clinics in the bush, Aboriginal Health Practitioners (AHP) are the vital link connecting their communities to healthcare providers.
However, a critical kink disrupts this essential chain in Indigenous healthcare provision — a stark gender imbalance.
An NT Health spokeswoman described AHP’s work as “crucial”.
“Aboriginal Health Practitioners provide a unique profession founded on traditional values and complemented by modern medicine,” she said.
“These professions are crucial to ensuring NT Health creates culturally and clinically safe models of healthcare meeting the specific needs of Aboriginal families and communities.”
According to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) there are 198 registered AHP in the Northern Territory, 52 men and 146 women — it is this gender divide that is causing issues.
Senior lecturer at the Batchelor Institute, Pilar Cubilo, said some cultural protocols limited AHP’s ability to treat all patients.
“There are areas of treatment you cannot do as a female for male patients and vice-versa,” Ms Cubilo said.
“It also depends on where you sit in kinship relationships.
“There are many factors at play.”
Ms Cubilo could not explain why such a stark gender divide existed in the profession, but said gaining the qualifications created significant obstacles.
Students must travel to trainers like Batchelor Institute from across the Top End every month to complete two-week training blocks, along with completing 800 clinical hours.
“Due to life and social commitments in communities, completing the course may not happen within the time frame its meant to,” Ms Cubilo said.
“People often have to stop their study and return to community.
“There are equal obligations for both men and women — everyone has an obligation to their family and community.”
One practitioner who overcame both these obstacles as a man from a remote community is Tiwi Islander Gideon Pangiraminni.
Mr Pangiraminni said it was not easy becoming the Tiwi Islands’ first registered AHP 17 years ago.
“It was hard work,” he said.
“You have to go back and forth down to Batchelor to study.”
After 17 years working at the Pirlangimpi Clinic, Mr Pangiraminni recently began working at Tiwi College.
“I look after the kids’ health and wellbeing here,” he said.
“I also concentrate on trying to educate younger children.
“Lots of Tiwi people are on dialysis, we have higher rates of heart disease and kidney failure.
“I want to make sure I am here to educate children about these issues.”
Ms Cubilo said she remembered this trailblazer when he was her student.
“It’s a big achievement for him and his community,” she said.
“In our current cohort we have a really good ratio of men to women, about 40:60.
“I hope more men choose to do it.”
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Originally published as Less men means more problems for crucial Aboriginal health workforce
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