‘Giving Back to Our Community’: The Retention of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Disability Workforce in New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia require culturally responsive services. The Australian government has committed to establishing strategies to increase the size of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disability workforce; however, there is scant research on the factors influencing retention. This study aimed to examine the factors that influence the retention of non-university qualified Aboriginal health, ageing and disability workers in New South Wales, and is a mixed-methods qualitative study. The Grounded Theory approach and an Indigenous decolonising methodological framework were applied along with the COREQ standards and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Quality Appraisal tool. Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines and principles for Indigenous research were addressed. Fifteen managers (n = 6) and employees (n = 9) working in the disability sector were interviewed, and 11 were Aboriginal. Five themes emerged from the data: commitment to client care; job and role conditions; support and respect; a culturally safe workplace; and organisation policy and strategic directions. Aboriginal employees clearly state that giving back to communities and families is a driving factor in their commitment to their role. We recommend that employers consider flexible work arrangements to support employees in delivering on this commitment.