NSW Aboriginal Population Health Training Initiative (APHTI) placements

The NSW Aboriginal Population Health Training Initiative (APHTI) is a three-year training program run in partnerships with the NSW Ministry of Health and population health services across NSW local health districts and speciality health networks. The APHTI consists of a series of work placements in the population health services of a NSW health service and part-time study towards a Master of Public Health.

APHTI trainees based at NCIRS have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of projects across NCIRS. We encourage and support trainees to build their skills and knowledge about immunisation research and surveillance. Trainees may have the opportunity to publish work from their NCIRS projects in peer-reviewed journals. Trainees placed at NCIRS are also supported to attend the annual PHAA communicable diseases and immunisation conference.

NCIRS has hosted four APHTI trainees since 2018. Selected projects of these trainees have included:

Social Science in Immunisation

• Aboriginal Influenza Vaccination Study
• Development of resources based on findings from the Aboriginal Influenza Vaccination Study
  • Fact sheet for health providers about importance of influenza and COVID-19 vaccination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • Conversation guide for mainstream healthcare providers on supportive conversations about vaccination with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families

Surveillance and Evaluation

• Indigenous Vaccine Preventable Disease Reports
  • 2011-2015
  • 2016-2019
• Vaccination for Our Mob Reports
  • 2011-2015
  • 2016-2019
• Evaluations of Vaccination for Our Mob Reports

Support for National Indigenous Immunisation Coordinator

• Review and recommendations for changes to the Immunisation Handbook to make more culturally appropriate
• Involvement in the NCIRS Cultural Governance Group
• Assistance providing support to immunisation providers and communities with enquiries
• Involvement on national and state immunisation committees to guarantee that more than one Indigenous voice is heard by contributing culturally relevant advice.

More information about NCIRS current APHTIs can be found here.

For more information about the APHTI program and to view current opportunities, visit the Ministry of Health website.