Empowering our First Nations workforce: evaluation of a First Nations COVID-19 vaccination training program

Sean Cowley; Karina Baigrie; Katie Panaretto; Kelly Trudgen; Vanessa Clements; Oscar Whitehead; Rica Lacey

doi:10.1071/PY23027

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Empowering our First Nations workforce: evaluation of a First Nations COVID-19 vaccination training program

Sean Cowley ^A ^* , Karina Baigrie ^A ^B , Katie Panaretto ^A ^C , Kelly Trudgen ^A , Vanessa Clements ^A , Oscar Whitehead ^D and Rica Lacey ^C

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Office of First Nations Health, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.

^B Cunningham Centre, Darling Downs Health, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia.

^C Darling Downs Health, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia.

^D Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia.

^* Correspondence to: Sean.Cowley@health.qld.gov.au

Australian Journal of Primary Health 30, PY23027 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY23027

Submitted: 24 February 2023 Accepted: 1 November 2023 Published: 18 December 2023

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of La Trobe University. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY)

Abstract

Background

A COVID-19 vaccination training program was designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) health workers and practitioners in Queensland to expand their scope of practice to include COVID-19 immunisation. In the setting of a global pandemic, the project aimed to improve vaccination levels and show how First Nations staff are central to community-led responses to effectively address their community’s health needs.

Methods

The program, consisting of an online module and face to face workshop, is described and then evaluated with the RE–AIM framework via mixed methods of participant training surveys and qualitative feedback.

Results

The program reached 738 online and 329 workshop participants with the majority identifying as First Nations. The 52 workshops were attended by participants from 12 different hospital and health services in Queensland and 13 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs). Feedback was positive, with participants rating the training highly. Of the First Nations Health Workers and Practitioners who responded to the workshop follow up survey, the majority (34/40) implemented their new skills in practice helping minimise the impact of COVID-19 outbreaks in their community. Most respondents (38/40) considered vaccination should be permanently in their scope of practice.

Conclusions

The successful implementation of the vaccination training project was an example of First Nations led health care. Improving scope of practice for First Nations health staff can improve not just career retention and progression but also the delivery of primary care to a community that continues to bear the inequity of poorer health outcomes.

Keywords: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner, COVID-19, empower, evaluation, First Nations health workforce, immunisation, Indigenous health worker, RE–AIM, scope of practice, vaccination training.

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