Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander students have the opportunity to enrol in the newly introduced Indigenous Pre-Medicine and Health Sciences Enabling Course at Curtin University.<\/p>\n
The course, run through the Centre for Aboriginal Studies (CAS) in collaboration with the Faculty of Health Sciences and Curtin\u2019s Medical School, will welcome the first set of students in Semester 1 2017 to enable more Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander students to pursue higher education.<\/p>\n
Professor Marion Kickett, Director of CAS, said the course will provide a culturally appropriate pathway that is suitable for students who haven\u2019t completed ATAR studies in the past, but were still interested in health and medicine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a significant milestone for CAS and will assist in growing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolling in mainstream health sciences courses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe benefit for the community includes being able to produce Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals, as there is a need for an Indigenous health workforce to assist in Closing the Gap,\u201d Professor Kickett said.<\/p>\n
The current requirements by the Australian Government and health organisations to increase the number of Indigenous doctors and health professionals across the wider Australian health services industry has been identified as a major health initiative.<\/p>\n
Professor Jill Downie, Curtin\u2019s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, said the course will encourage and transition Indigenous students into these highly qualified areas of health and medicine.
\n\u201cThe course will be in alignment with key national and university strategies to increase culturally appropriate and evidence-based health services to Indigenous people, and also to improve Indigenous Australians\u2019 health outcomes,\u201d Professor Downie said.<\/p>\n