Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Staff during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Smriti Nepal (), Sandra Bailey, Jamie Newman, Lachlan Wright, Natalie Smith, Michelle Dickson and Anna Williamson
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Smriti Nepal: Sax Institute, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia
Sandra Bailey: Sax Institute, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia
Jamie Newman: Orange Aboriginal Medical Service, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia
Lachlan Wright: Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation, Airds, NSW 2560, Australia
Natalie Smith: Riverina Medical and Dental Aboriginal Corporation, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia
Michelle Dickson: Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Anna Williamson: Centre for Evidence and Implementation, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 12, 1-8

Abstract: This study explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work and social and emotional well-being (SEWB) of staff at Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) in Australia. Between September and November 2021, staff from three ACCHSs in New South Wales completed an online survey to report changes to their roles, concerns about becoming infected with the COVID-19 virus, and job satisfaction in the last month. The survey measured emotional exhaustion and psychological distress by using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey and Kessler-5 scale, respectively. The survey determined staff’s access to SEWB support. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each variable. Among 92 staff from three ACCHSs, 36% reported a COVID-19-related change in their role and 64% were concerned about becoming infected. In spite of the pandemic, most staff (69%) were satisfied with their job. While most staff were not burnt out or psychologically distressed, 25% had high emotional exhaustion and 30% had high to very high psychological distress. Relatedly, 37% had accessed SEWB support at least once in their lifetime and 24% had accessed support in the last month. As the pandemic continues, it is important to identify factors influencing burnout or psychological distress among ACCHS staff and implement evidence-based solutions.

Keywords: healthcare workers; social and emotional wellbeing; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health; primary healthcare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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