About the program
U-me Koola - 'Our Rock, Our Power'
U-me Koola is an education and employment program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. You'll have a permanent full time job with Queensland Health as well as being supported with tailored learning plans.
Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals provide culturally safe, clinical and primary health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
The program was designed to:
- give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples access to health education and a career in healthcare
- celebrate our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners and Health Workers.
The U-me Koola program is being run in the following 3 areas with more to come.
Ross Atu - We need our young aboriginal island people to be a health worker cuz they're the frontline to provide that continual care to close the aboriginal island healthcare.
Kerry Thompson - We need you. We need the local kids to become our next generation of health workers because we want to grow our own. And you are the people that know what's best for our community.
Moyita Clapman - There's a job for everyone in healthcare. I didn't think I could do it. And I'm here now. I didn't believe in myself. You need to believe in yourself to be able to do whatever you wanna do. Become a health worker, become a nurse, become a doctor. You can do it.
Dayne Purcell - It is a wonderful career that has so many opportunities, so many different avenues of learning. Like any opportunity you've have to take that first step. That's it. And we encourage all young people to do that. Look, exactly. Go mate. Get it.
Education and training
We've partnered with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) as the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) (5285) to deliver the vocational qualifications associated with the Program.
As part of the program you'll get:
- full time permanent employment
- tailored education plans to suit individual learning needs
- flexible rostering so you have time to study during work hours
- culturally safe support.
You'll do ‘on the job and off the job’ training to complete nationally recognised qualifications.
We offer the following.
- HLT30121 Certificate III Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care. This qualification covers a broad range of units for entry level learners. The completion of the Certificate III qualification aligns with the role requirements of an Aboriginal and Torres Islander Strait Islander Health Worker.
- HLT40221 Certificate IV Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice. This qualification offers complementary unit selection supporting development of holistic clinical foundations. The Certificate IV qualification aligns with requirements of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner.
About the role
The trainee Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner role, under workplace supervision, will provide support and assistance to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health consumers, delivering flexible, accessible, and holistic health care that incorporates a multi-disciplinary, collaborative care planning approach to meet individual consumer, family and community needs.
Key responsibilities
As part of the Program requirements, participants will experience a broad range of clinical and community healthcare services within the Hospital and Health Service, whilst concurrently undertaking prescribed education.
The general responsibilities of the role will include:
- Assist in supporting and advocating for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health consumers within the local community.
- Demonstrate a commitment to working towards prescribed education standards, and actively participate in the training and assessment materials of the program. On a limited basis, essential training and assessment requirements may involve travel away from family and community.
- Consolidate skills and knowledge associated with the program’s education standards and apply this in practice within the health care environment.
- Liaise and communicate with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health consumers. Use cultural knowledge and community trust to provide culturally safe and respectful health care to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
- Assist to empower health consumers to make informed health care decisions through consultation, education, holistic understanding, and information sharing.
Express your interest
Let us know if you're interested by clicking on the button below and we’ll be in touch when a role is being advertised.
About the 'U-me Koola' name
In commemoration of the past and present Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce the Program has been blessed with a traditional name. U-me Koola, translates to ‘Our Rock, Our Power’ and speaks to the spiritual, cultural, and ethical tenets of healthcare which are inherent to the Program, as well as recognising the power of education. The name honours the Torres Strait Creole language, the Biri Aboriginal language group and follows the respective community protocols for use.
Acknowledgement
We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands and waters of Australia, the Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the first peoples of this nation, for their invaluable contributions to the development of the U-me Koola Program and training materials. We extend our respect to their Elders past and present, and we value the significant role their stories, traditions, and knowledge have played in enriching this work.
Our heartfelt thanks go to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and individuals who generously continue to share their wisdom, insights, and cultural knowledge, ensuring that the content we present is respectful, informed, and authentic. The collaboration with community has been pivotal in shaping a curriculum that not only educates but also honours the depth and diversity of the world’s oldest continuous culture.
Get in touch
For more information you can either:
- email: FNHO_workforce@health.qld.gov.au
- phone: First Nations Workforce Branch 07 37085239.