Monash University Department of Rural and Indigenous Health

Indigenous Education

Introduction

The inclusion of Indigenous health and a better understanding of its social determinants are now compulsory components of the undergraduate curricula in medicine, nursing and some health sciences. Guest lecturers who are Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous health professionals who have worked in Indigenous health are included in the teaching programme. Thus students experience aspects of the ‘real world’ of Indigenous people and their health. We are mindful that 60% of Indigenous Australians live in large towns and cites and are no less Indigenous than people who live in remote communities in the Northern Territory.

Cultural competence and safety.

A most important focus of teaching and research carried out by the Indigenous Health Unit team is about creating culturally competent health professionals. Cultural competence means that you value the diversity of the cultures in a multicultural society such as Australia’s, and that you learn about different cultures and develop ways in which to adjust your responses to the people that you will treat and work with so that they will feel culturally safe. The IHU team uses the Indigenous context as the setting in which to teach about this reflective skill in a positive and constructive way which recognises the emotional reactions that students and colleagues will feel.

Too many mainstream Australians and new immigrants know next to nothing about Australian history let alone the Indigenous perspective on that history. Many students say that they have never met an Indigenous person, yet how would they necessarily know? We aim to fill these gaps and show in a positive light how students can look forward to working in the broad field of Indigenous health with the skills of a culturally safe professional.

Indigenous health and Wellbeing (SRH2002)

This Unit has been updated for 2008. It is a core unit for first-year Nursing and Emergency Health students and an elective subject for several other courses. Indigenous and non-Indigenous lecturers, tutors and guest lecturers come from a variety of disciplines to enhance the experience. ;The Unit is taught at Churchill, Mildura and Peninsula, and off-campus.

The objectives of the unit are focussed on understanding Australian Indigenous cultures and their social organisation, the impacts of colonisation and government policies, and Indigenous worldviews and perspectives on health and wellbeing.

The lectures build on an introduction to Indigenous history and its legacy. We consider the current health indicators and the many aspects associated with working with Indigenous communities. Indigenous guest lecturers will talk about working with communities and community control of health. There are also lectures that explore racism, ethics, professionalism and cultural competence, and draw on some international comparisons. Students are encouraged to continue the process of reflecting on their own cultures and values during their studies and on becoming health professionals.

Indigenous Health for Health Professionals (CRH1010)

This Unit is a component of the Graduate Diploma/Master of Rural Health coursework and the new Masters of Health Sciences, and is designed to encourage self-directed study. The single semester, off-campus unit is intended to suit the needs of rural and remote health professionals and to offer opportunities for exploring topics in Indigenous health that are of personal and/or professional interest and relevant wherever the student is situated, professionally or geographically. The emphasis is on seeking answers to how knowledge acquired can be translated into actions that will make a difference to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians.

Selectives for medical and nursing students
As part of student learnings about Indigenous culture and communities and how they work, the IHU organises informative programmes run by Indigenous leaders. Each year for the last 4 years a group of medical and nursing students have enjoyed journeys of discovery with a rural or remote Indigenous community in various parts of southeast Australia. In 2007, we took 40 medical and nursing students to the Flinders Ranges of South Australia where they enjoyed an intense programme led by senior members of the Iga Warta community. Students learned about the many aspects of the culture and knowledges of the Adnyamathanha people, as well as their social history and contemporary experiences. We plan a similar experience around Mildura in 2008 and open it up to health science students.

The Indigenous experience plus visits to metropolitan, rural and remote health services, provides students with a vital insight into the social determinants of today’s Indigenous health. It is also an excellent opportunity for future health professionals to learn together in a relaxed, innovative and helpful setting. It is an opportunity to see what it is like to work in a remote setting.

This year, the graduate medical students of the new Gippsland Medical School will have a unique opportunity to take part in a cultural experience in Central Australia in which they will be led through a culturally orientated programme by Indigenous health care providers and teachers. This personal growth experience is designed to show students the health and cultural issues of a remote location and to inspire them to think about working in rural and remote Indigenous health.

Australian Indigenous Men’s Health Unit
MUDRIH in partnership with prominent Aboriginal health professionals and with the support and guidance from Andrology Australia are developing an education module for Aboriginal male Health Workers in all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) men’s health across their lifespan. This series of modules is being produced with layered learning objectives from basic Certificate level up to Certificate IV and in compliance with national Australian accreditation standards.

The Unit derives from a discussion held in 2002 between ATSI men who had a special interest in male health and representatives of Andrology Australia. They wanted to see an improvement in the education and awareness of sexual health in the ATSI male population. The modules address several key issues. Some of these issues relate to poorly kept health records and statistical information; lack of gender-appropriate health services; high incidence of STDs and reproductive health problems; high mortality from lifestyle diseases; low immunisation and birth weights; poor nutrition; and issues related to social emotional and spiritual wellbeing of ATSI men, their families and communities.

These modules will provide appropriate education of ATSI males for becoming effective Aboriginal Health Workers who are able to provide basic health and wellbeing checks, facilitated health promotion and education to ATSI males and to provide medical interpreter and advocacy services to ATSI males and non-ATSI health professionals. This is expected to improve ATSI men’s active participation in their health care, better health outcomes and more culturally competent health professionals and services. The modules promise to be a formidable training tool to impact upon the current deplorable health of ATSI men. They will be trialled in 2008 in an ATSI community and delivered nationally through selected registered training organisations.