PhD Opportunity with Katherine West Health Board
Evaluating the Impact of Health Coaching in Aboriginal Primary Health Care
About the project
Chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and kidney disease disproportionately affect Aboriginal Australians and are responsible for more than 70% of the gap in life expectancy. These conditions can be managed effectively in Primary Health Care (PHC), however, Aboriginal service-users have identified inadequate self-management support as a key gap in the current PHC service model. This is compounded by high staff turnover of non-Aboriginal staff and subsequent experiences of culturally unsafe care.
During 2025, Katherine West Health Board will be implementing a new health career entry qualification for Aboriginal residents in remote communities – Aboriginal Health Coaching. (see attached)
Health coaching is a culturally responsive, community-centred intervention to improve health outcomes for chronic conditions in remote Aboriginal communities. At the same time Health Coaching provides a nationally accredited qualification and employment pathway into Aboriginal Health Worker and Health Practitioner roles.
PhD Opportunity
A PhD opportunity exists to assist with the evaluation of the implementation of health coaching using developmental evaluation and implementation science methods.
The PhD research will be conducted in partnership and under the guidance of Aboriginal leaders throughout the KWHB communities and is well supported through a panel of experienced stakeholders across academia, policy and PHC practice.
Further opportunities exist to develop a research program to evaluate longer-term health impacts and outcomes associated with Aboriginal Health Coaching, including implementation in more Aboriginal PHC services.
Details and contact
Contact: Sinon Cooney, CEO Katherine West Health Board
Email: sinon.cooney@kwhb.com.au
Location: Darwin or Katherine
Salary: Employee of Katherine West Health Board (KWHB) – negotiable based on experience
More information about the project
