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Indigenous Health
We would like to pay respect to all elders past and present, for they are the traditional custodians of the land who maintain the culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We also would like to acknowledge the Indigenous leaders that have provided the platform for Indigenous people to rise up to their full potential.
The Indigenous Health Portfolio welcomes the health community to be part of a rapidly growing area of rural and remote Australian health. The Indigenous Health Portfolio's purpose is to service the needs of students with an interest in Indigenous health as well as to foster and facilitate future Indigenous and non-Indigenous health professionals in to rural Australia. The Portfolio's involvement ranges from Indigenous Community Festivals held around the country to cultural awareness information and training. Although we are non-Indigenous health students, we acknowledge the unique culture and history that Indigenous people have and respect the opinions of the Indigenous community. We promise to actively engage with the Indigenous community and with students who have a passion for Indigenous health. We will ensure that a culturally sensitive and inclusive perspective is provided to the NRHSN.
The Portfolio invites anyone who is interested in Indigenous community health matters or who has a desire to be involved with Indigenous community projects and events to please contact or send any questions or suggestions to the Indigenous Health team via email. We would love to hear from you. The 2013 Portfolio TeamSenior Indigenous Health Portfolio Representative - Lisa Waters
Lisa is a second year medical student in the Northern Territory Medical Program at Flinders University. Her heritage is British and Scottish but she immigrated to Australia at 11 weeks of age; where she grew up in the Blue Mountains. Lisa has a background as a Registered Nurse with post graduate qualifications including a Graduate Diploma Emergency Nursing, Masters Nursing (Emergency) and a Graduate Certificate Remote Health Practice. Her passion for rural and remote medicine and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders began when she started working as a Remote Area Nurse five years ago. She initially worked on the Ngaanyatjarra lands for 18 months. Since then she has worked in a number of remote locations including Warraber in the Torres Straits, before deciding to start medicine. Lisa is a member of CRANA+ and the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA). Lisa is focused on supporting Indigenous students gaining qualifications as health professionals. She is also passionate that non Indigenous students and health professionals are able to work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, in a way that is respectful, understanding of their unique cultures, insightful into differing world views and with insight and self-reflection. Junior Indigenous Health Portfolio Representative - Sophie Alpen Sophie was born and grew up in Griffith in south-western New South Wales. She is second generation Australian with a Welsh and Italian background. After completing high school she moved to Sydney to attend the University of New South Wales. This year she is a fourth year Medicine/Arts student studying Indigenous studies and Music. Sophie is passionate about education around Indigenous culture and the role it plays in breaking down sociocultural misunderstandings particularly in the health setting. She has held the role of NRHSN indigenous festivals officer previously and continuing this year to help inspire and excite Indigenous high school students about health living and future health career pathways. Sophie is currently the Indigenous Health Representative for the rural health club RAHMS and holds the position of Rural and Indigenous Officer on the AMSA executive. She is motivated to increase indigenous student representation in the network and provide rural health clubs with avenues to immerse themselves in local communities to build positive experiences and long-term relationships.
Indigenous Health Portfolio Stakeholders
2013 Goals of the Indigenous Health Portfolio1. To increase the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander membership of the NRHSN, to reflect the percentage of the total population of Indigenous people currently engaged in tertiary study (5%) 2. To increase the cultural proficiency of NRHSN members in Indigenous health by supporting NACCHO in their goal of Cultural Safety Training Standards and providing extensive supporting resources for the NRHSN 3. To maintain strong relationships with stakeholders relevant to the Indigenous Health Portfolio 4. To promote involvement of rural health clubs for Indigenous events, such as close the gap, Indigenous festivals and days of significance to Indigenous people 5. To ensure that all rural health clubs establish and maintain relationships with their local Indigenous communities via the Indigenous units within each university 6. To conduct a review of the NRHSN Indigenous health policy for the future. Significant Dates for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People in 2013
The CDAMS Indigenous Health Curriculum FrameworkThe Indigenous health curriculum framework is the medical school curriculum for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health content in medical programs, that all unversities MUST address. It is currently being reviewed, but if you wish to view a current edition of the document please click on the link below. CDAMS Indigenous Health Curriculum Framework As a health student it may be intimidating when you begin working with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in a clinical setting. You may not know what to say or more importantly, how you say it. 'Communicating Positively' is a guide for health professionals to communicate with Indigenous people in a culturally appropriate way, although NSW focussed it provides a strong foundation for you to work off. If you are interested in working with Indigenous communities or seeking to establish a relationship with the local Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander community to get involved with your rural health club, then click on the link below to access a valuable resource that will assist you overcoming the communication barrier. In 2010, Dr Tom Calma delivered the Chalmers Oration at Flinders university in South Australia. In his presentation Dr Calma spoke about what needs to be done to "Close the Gap" and gives an in depth view on the health of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people from his groundbreaking role as social justice commissioner. If you are passionate about Indigenous health, you should click on the link below to view Dr Calma's speech and gain a deeper understanding of the health of Australia's first people. 2010 Chalmers Oration - Dr Tom Calma
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