Building Respectful and Effective Partnerships with Aboriginal Health Workers

How can rural doctors build genuinely respectful, effective partnerships with Aboriginal health workers? In this episode of RG Life Hacks, Dr Emily Moody speaks with Dr Nicolette (Nicci) Roux, Rural Generalist and Executive Director of Medical Services, and Aboriginal health worker and clinic coordinator Tamara Murray, about what meaningful collaboration looks like at Wuchopperen, a community-controlled Aboriginal health service that has served the Cairns community for 46 years.

Nicci and Tamara describe a patient-centred, holistic model of care where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers are essential members of a multidisciplinary team, ensuring care is culturally safe, responsive, and grounded in community needs. Tamara explains how she coordinates busy clinic flow, triages patients, translates “doctor talk”, and acts as a cultural broker and advocate so that community members feel seen, heard, and respected.

For registrars, this conversation offers guidance on listening to understand, yarning, and recognising the expertise Aboriginal health workers bring in cultural knowledge, community relationships, and practical problem-solving. It also highlights everyday opportunities in clinic and team settings to reflect on your own practice, seek feedback, and learn from colleagues.

This episode is essential listening for doctors working in rural and remote settings who want to strengthen these partnerships, provide culturally safer care, and become the kind of team members that communities trust to walk alongside them.

Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine. The material presented is for general information purposes only.