Indigenous Health

The long stay medical students from Sydney and Western Sydney Universities, spend two days on country with the Aboriginal education team, local community members, and staff employed in Aboriginal community controlled health services and the Local Health District to talk about Aboriginal people, life in a rural area, health and history.  Students are asked to extend their thinking to the future and how they can respond to the current status of Aboriginal people, the social determinants of health and what role they play as individuals and as future medical professionals.

• It is with a deep sense of gratitude that I reflect on the knowledge shared with all today. I appreciate the vulnerability of diving into the past of your peoples, speaking of trauma experienced by the generations before you, which continues on to this day. Thank you for the strength you model in your willingness to respond to our questions non-judgementally. You have offered us a footstep in the door through which we may continue forging our path of understanding, both self-taught and through engagement with Aboriginal peoples across the land. ALWAYS WAS, ALWAYS WILL BE. (USYD 2018)

• WE HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN! Thanks for sharing us (heart). SOVEREIGNITY NEVER CEDED. This morning’s panel with local Indigenous Health workers was of great importance for our upcoming catapult into the Lismore Health system. I feel better equipped to guide Aboriginal people towards targeted services, so that they may receive culturally appropriate care. Hearing of the personal and professional lives of Kelly, Troy, Payden and Anthony, encourages the Question-Why is the current health system so INFLEXIBLE in managing patient’s needs? I hope to play a role in changing this. (USYD 2018)

• The opportunity to interact with Aboriginal people and openly sharing personal cultural experiences is something we would never have come close to in Sydney, so Thank you (UOW 2016)

• I am so glad we came. It was great to have informal chats where I could ask questions I would feel comfortable asking anywhere else (UOW 2016)

• I was really quite shocked by the recency of the stolen generation and the conditions. Also the period of time these practices spanned. It helped me understand the lasting impact on present indigenous Australians. (WSU 2017)

• I have found today very beneficial. I have learnt many new things and cleared up many others. I also found the presentation really engaging. I was surprised by the treatment of children and surprised at the lack of freedom, being held in a mission / reserves is awful to think about.  It was also really interesting to think about how recent events were and the lasting impact on people now. I also find it shocking that Australia has such a history of racism and genocide yet it is not as well known or spoken about as other genocides in the world. I really like how these background stories have been applied to us and how to think about things differently within clinical practice.   (WSU 2017)

• Where possible, Sydney medical students gain access to ACCHO’s for placements in their community term. This is dependent on ACCHO availability and student interest.
• Social Equity Evenings – Film Night with an Aboriginal movie.
• Attendance at NAIDOC week events around the region
• Goori Book Club – bi-monthly book club to discuss a book written by or about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, some are recounts of past events or biographies.
• Short placements in but not limited to: 1-day community health event with ACCHOs, ACCHO placements, Child health check days, Aboriginal sports carnivals – first aid tents and strapping stations
• Kinship Festival held each year in Murwillumbah

Graduate Diploma Indigenous Health promotion |  2019 Mid-year intake

The University Centre for Rural health is hosting the Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Health promotion (GDIHP) course run by the University of Sydney.   This is a great opportunity for Aboriginal & /or Torres Strait Islander people to complete their studies in Lismore, on beautiful Widjabul Wyabul country.

The GDIHP is aimed at Aboriginal &/ Torres Strait Islander people working in health and related fields  within their communities.

The GDIHP is delivered in block study mode made up of 3 day intensives, for example, face to face teaching on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, further complimented with online course lectures, readings and materials to be completed in your own time.

All travel and accommodation costs for the course is covered.

A HELP debt of around $6500 will be incurred and is paid back at a small percentage each year through your taxable income once you earn over $51,987 a year.  Remember this is an investment in your career and can help to lead you into working in the health field, or give you new skills for current role.

For more information on HELP debts with the Australian Taxation office click here https://www.ato.gov.au/Rates/HELP,-TSL-and-SFSS-repayment-thresholds-and-rates/#HELPandTSLrepaymentthresholdsandrates201

More information about available scholarships can be found on this website : https://indigenousscholarships.com.au/#/nav/landing-page

To apply for for the course, please go to this link:

https://sydney.edu.au/courses/courses/pc/graduate-diploma-in-indigenous-health-promotion.html

View this video to hear from previous GDIHP students about their experience of the GDIHP.

Bari is our Aboriginal Youth program, which is short for Baribunmani Wanyi Ngay and translates to “I dreamed of you”. Bari is intended to inspire and encourage students to reach for their dreams, all while promoting future careers within health.

Bari is aimed at Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander high school students in Year 8 to year 12 the objective of the Bari program is to encourage Aboriginal high school students to consider a career in health. The long term objective of Bari is to increase the number of Aboriginal people employed in the Health workforce in the NSW North Coast, thereby improving the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We offer half day sessions held at the UCRH, so that high school students become familiar with a tertiary learning environment, get a chance to learn a new health related skill in our state of the art simulation centre and hear from Aboriginal Community members who are currently working within health.

We also provide support to schools by with organising transport and catering at this event.

Example Bari session

10am- Welcome to country

10:10- Overview of the day, tour of the UCRH

10:30 -Simulation skills session in suturing, CPR or bandaging.

11:15- Morning tea

11:40- Panel of local Aboriginal Health workers in a variety of roles speaking about their career journey

12:30- Interactive question and answer session

12:45- short video clip promoting health careers

1:00- lunch

2021 Sessions in Lismore

To be advised.

AGE: Year 8

TIME: 10am to 1pm

DATE: Tuesday 18 June, 2019

VENUE: Lismore UCRH

2021 Sessions in Grafton and Murwillumbah

To be advised.

To register your school to attend a session,  please contact Susan Parker Pavlovic on 0402 972 050 or Email- susan.parkerpavlovic@sydney.edu.au