Emerging roles are beginning to be identified to effectively meet service delivery models and holistic models of health and wellbeing. Due to funding expansions, and industry need, emerging roles are becoming apparent in their importance in maintaining not only a culturally appropriate model of care but also the implementation of the care.

There are no clear training or job classification systems for these emerging roles, which means many of the skills applied in these roles are not clearly defined nor acknowledged. These roles are best suited to local Aboriginal people, and therefore represent opportunities to develop and strengthen the local Aboriginal workforce.

The diagram below highlights emerging roles only. All established roles are faded out.

<aside> 💡 Note: the roles of Traditional Healer and Elder are long established cultural roles and are only included here as emerging roles within mainstream health services.

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<aside> 💡 Emerging demand for care coordination roles: Organisations will need to look to employing people in “care coordination” roles to meet a service delivery model that is all about connecting a single client with multiple services in order to meet their specific and unique needs.

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Recommendations to Strengthen Emerging Roles

• Create a role classification system for emerging roles, with clearly defined role descriptions, skill requirements and training pathways.
• Strengthen accredited and non-accredited training options and pathways.
• Support emerging pathways within roles - not just for new hiring.
• Create workforce development support roles and programs to strengthen the workforce in emerging roles.
• Increase formal roles for Elders, Traditional Healers and other emerging roles in health services.
• Develop 'core foundational skills' training for local Aboriginal people to work in entry level jobs working for health services.

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