On November 10th, the first cohort of trainees commenced the Certificate II in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care through the Indigenous Health Workforce Traineeship (IHWT) Program. This cohort brings together students from five Member Services across South Australia, creating an opportunity to learn, connect and build the skills needed to begin a rewarding career in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care.

The program will be delivered through eight face-to-face workshops running from November 2026 to July 2027, complimented by workplace learning and ongoing support from supervisors, mentors and the AHCSA Workforce team and IHWT project officer.

We would like to extend a warm welcome to all students joining this year’s program. Embarking on a training journey is an exciting step, and we congratulate each of you on your commitment to developing your skills and contributing to the future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care. Over the coming months, you will have the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, build professional networks, learn from experienced health professionals and share experiences with fellow trainees from across the state.

We encourage you to embrace every learning opportunity, ask questions, support one another and take pride in the important role you are preparing to undertake within your communities and workplaces. We look forward to following your journey and celebrating your achievements throughout the program.

Throughout the qualification, trainees will develop foundational knowledge and practical skills in:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care
• Effective communication and community engagement
• Working safely in a health care environment
• Cultural responsiveness and professional practice
• Supporting clients and working within multidisciplinary teams

This traineeship plays an important role in strengthening the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce and supporting better health outcomes for communities across South Australia.

We thank the participating Member Services, supervisors and mentors for their ongoing commitment to workforce development and for supporting trainees to succeed. We look forward to sharing updates, achievements and highlights from the cohort’s journey over the coming months.