HEALTH MINISTER JOINS CATHY FREEMAN TO LAUNCH INDIGENOUS NURSING RECRUITMENT DRIVE

Olympic gold medallist Cathy Freeman joined Health Minister Stephen Robertson in Brisbane today to launch a recruitment drive aimed at getting more indigenous Queenslanders into the nursing profession.

Mr Robertson said indigenous nursing recruitment was a priority for the Bligh Government.

“We believe that recruiting more indigenous nurses will lead to better health outcomes for indigenous Queenslanders,” he said.

“The focal point of the Nurses - Helping Our Mob campaign is a DVD starring Cathy Freeman and a number of indigenous nurses who present nursing as a rewarding career.

“We’re delighted to have Cathy Freeman involved in this campaign because she’s such a positive role model for young indigenous people.

“Currently, indigenous Australians have a life expectancy 18 years lower than other Australians.

“The Bligh Government is committed to closing this life expectancy gap, and one way of doing that is by increasing our indigenous health workforce.

“We know that indigenous people are sometimes deterred from seeking conventional medical treatment because of a lack of culturally appropriate care.

“The evidence is that more indigenous people will access health care if there are more indigenous health professionals available.”

Mr Robertson said the campaign would target 14 to 17-year-olds, with the DVD being used in indigenous schools and at community events such as NAIDOC Week and Croc Fest.

“We have about 300 Indigenous nurses in the workforce and another 250 Indigenous nursing students, but we want to recruit even more young Indigenous people to take up careers in nursing,” he said.

“Local and international experience tells us we achieve improved health outcomes if we have indigenous people in the health professions.

“We are striving to close the life expectancy gap of 18 years between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Queenslanders and this will be boosted immeasurably if we can increase our indigenous health workforce”.

Mr Robertson said the Bligh Government was committed to a number of schemes to boost the indigenous health workforce.

“This includes offering 40 cadetships across Queensland to support nursing students through undergraduate nursing programs,” he said.

“The cadetships will provide a basic level of financial support aimed at retaining students to complete their nursing studies.

“In January we created 15 cadetships aimed at those undertaking Enrolled Nursing Programmes via the TAFE sector in communities such as Cherbourg and Yarrabah.

“We have also provided scholarships for midwives undertaking undergraduate midwifery studies and refresher programs and we now have an Indigenous Nurse Advisor attached to the Office of the Chief Nursing Officer.

“Next month we begin implementing the inaugural Strategic Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nursing and Midwifery.”

Mr Robertson said young indigenous people considering a career in nursing could visit www.thinknursing.com for more information.

ENDS

MEDIA: Martin Philip 3225 2680 or 0407 675 008