Aboriginal Trainee Environmental Health Officer (ATEHO) Program
Although environmental health conditions in Aboriginal communities are often identified as being poor, and below the standards found in the wider community, there are very few Aboriginal people working in the environmental health profession, and fewer still at a level beyond community worker.
In an effort to develop an Aboriginal workforce with the leadership and technical skills to progress environmental health issues into the future, the Aboriginal Trainee Environmental Health Officer Program was developed.
What is the Aboriginal Trainee Environmental Health Officer Program?
In April 1997, NSW Health (with some initial funding support from the Commonwealth government) launched a five-year pilot program to train and provide study support for six Aboriginal people to become Environmental Health Officers.
The program is now fully funded by NSW Health and has been expanded to nine trainees, located across NSW. The first trainee graduated in 2001 and there are six graduates from the program to date. See the map for details on the locations of trainees and graduates across NSW.
The training program is a priority of the Aboriginal Environmental Health Unit and is identified in the NSW Aboriginal Health Strategic Plan, and the NSW Health Workforce Development Strategic Plan.
Program Structure
Employment
Trainees are employed full-time by an Area Health Service as a Trainee Environmental Health Officer (EHO) and are located in the regional Public Health Units (PHUs), where they are given increasing responsibilities over the life of the traineeship. While at the PHUs, trainees have the opportunity to actively participate in a wide range of environmental health issues and in some areas play a leading role in driving and ensuring the success of a number of public health projects.
An Environmental Health Officer in each PHU supervises and guides the workplace training and professional development of the trainees.
The salary scale for the Trainee EHOs is:
| 1st year | $31,336.00 per annum |
| 2nd year | $32,491.00 per annum |
| 3rd year | $33,655.00 per annum |
| 4th year | $34,812.00 per annum (Top of the range)* |
* Note: These are the current rates as at 1 December 2003 and are adjusted in accordance with any changes to salary movements in the Award.
Employment in the traineeship beyond 4th year is paid at the 4th year rate (top of the range).
Study Component
Trainees undertake a five to six year, Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Health) degree by distance learning through the University of Western Sydney (UWS).
Trainees study from home and the workplace and attend the university campus at least once a semester for on-campus residential workshops (for up to one week at a time) and again for tutorials and exams at the end of the semester (usually a few days).
As a general guide, students need to study for around 10 hours per week per subject. Whilst students are entitled to study leave, they still need to study during their own time at home.
Student Support
During University semester trainees are allowed up to 6 hours per subject per week study leave, up to a maximum of 2 days per week. At the completion of their study, trainees are offered two years employment with the Public Health Unit as a graduate EHO to consolidate their skills.
The program covers the cost of travel and expenses associated with the trainee's employment or study. Course fees (including HECS) for up to 24 subjects (being the full degree course load), and any other associated costs (including text books, technical equipment and graduation costs) are met by NSW Health.
Costs for any repeated or additional subjects (more than the 24 required) are paid for by the trainee.
Work Experience and Professional Development Opportunities
There are a number of skills relevant to the development of the trainees beyond those obtained through the degree. NSW Health is committed to ensuring the trainees have access to a broad range of work experiences and relevant professional development. We are currently developing a list of competencies to guide training plans for the trainees.
While the original intention of the program was to offer opportunities to train Aboriginal people as Environmental Health Officers there have been many additional benefits.
The development of the training program has coincided with a number of key NSW state government initiatives in Aboriginal environmental health. Of particular relevance has been Housing for Health projects run in a number of Aboriginal communities.
Participation in these and other initiatives, by many trainees and graduates from the program, has been a significant feature of their work in NSW Health. Trainees and graduates are playing an increasing role in ensuring the success of public health projects in communities and also in developing links between the communities and the public health units.
Trainees are also entitled to student membership of the Australian Institute of Environmental Health, the professional body for Environmental Health.