Attitudes to Short-Term Staffing and Workforce Priorities of Community Users of Remote Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Services: A Qualitative Study

Zania Liddle, Michelle S. Fitts (), Lisa Bourke, Lorna Murakami-Gold, Narelle Campbell, Deborah J. Russell, Supriya Mathew, Jason Bonson, Edward Mulholland, John S. Humphreys, Yuejen Zhao, John Boffa, Mark Ramjan, Annie Tangey, Rosalie Schultz and John Wakerman
Additional contact information
Zania Liddle: Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia
Michelle S. Fitts: Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia
Lisa Bourke: Department of Rural Health, The University of Melbourne, Shepparton, VIC 3630, Australia
Lorna Murakami-Gold: Poche SA and NT, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia
Narelle Campbell: College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Darwin, NT 0800, Australia
Deborah J. Russell: Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia
Supriya Mathew: Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia
Jason Bonson: Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia
Edward Mulholland: Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, Nhulunbuy, NT 0880, Australia
John S. Humphreys: School of Rural Health, Monash University, Bendigo, VIC 3550, Australia
Yuejen Zhao: Northern Territory Department of Health, Northern Territory Government, Darwin, NT 0800, Australia
John Boffa: Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia
Mark Ramjan: Top End Health Service, Northern Territory Government, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia
Annie Tangey: Ngaanyatjarra Health Service, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia
Rosalie Schultz: Ngaanyatjarra Health Service, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia
John Wakerman: Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 4, 1-18

Abstract: In recent years, there has been an increasing trend of short-term staffing in remote health services, including Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs). This paper explores the perceptions of clinic users’ experiences at their local clinic and how short-term staffing impacts the quality of service, acceptability, cultural safety, and continuity of care in ACCHSs in remote communities. Using purposeful and convenience sampling, community users (aged 18+) of the eleven partnering ACCHSs were invited to provide feedback about their experiences through an interview or focus group. Between February 2020 and October 2021, 331 participants from the Northern Territory and Western Australia were recruited to participate in the study. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim, and written notes and transcriptions were analysed deductively. Overall, community users felt that their ACCHS provided comprehensive healthcare that was responsive to their health needs and was delivered by well-trained staff. In general, community users expressed concern over the high turnover of staff. Recognising the challenges of attracting and retaining staff in remote Australia, community users were accepting of rotation and job-sharing arrangements, whereby staff return periodically to the same community, as this facilitated trusting relationships. Increased support for local employment pathways, the use of interpreters to enhance communication with healthcare services, and services for men delivered by men were priorities for clinic users.

Keywords: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander; primary health; workforce; remote; Australia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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