Cultural Training

Our students have opportunities to learn about the Indigenous cultures and populations that make our country so unique. Importantly, they also learn about the challenges and inequities that Indigenous Australians continue to face within our healthcare systems, which have contributed to their poorer health status and outcomes. Addressing this issue is a high priority.

Regional, rural and remote communities have a higher proportion of Aboriginal people than metropolitan centres, so, there is a greater likelihood that students will be in contact with Aboriginal people while on a rural placement. All students receive Aboriginal cultural training, as per the agreement between the University of Newcastle and the Australian Government Department of Health.

Aboriginal Cultural Training Program

Our Aboriginal Cultural Training Program aims to increase students' awareness of the history, social structure, protocols and customs that influence the way that health care is delivered to and perceived by Australian Aboriginal people¹.
The program has been developed in line with community cultural protocols of communication, consultation, integrity and transparency. The program is structured as follows:

Tier One: Online 'Knowledge in Practice'

The minimum cultural training expectation for all UONDRH students is that they complete the Knowledge in Practice package. Students view the video and use the information to answer the questions on that follow the videos.

Students on placement at smaller towns in the region where face-to-face cultural training is not delivered by our Indigenous health academics must complete Tier One cultural training. Ideally, all students, even if they do complete face-to-face training, should complete Tier One.

Tier Two: Face-to-Face

At some of our hubs (Tamworth, Taree, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour) students are expected to attend a face-to-face Aboriginal cultural training session that takes between one and two hours and is delivered by Indigenous Health Academics and Aboriginal Health Professionals. Students are notified by email of when these sessions are held.

Face-to-face sessions are the preferred way for students to access cultural training and students should make every effort to attend. Ideally, students will have completed Tier One before attending Tier Two.

Tier Three: Voluntary Activities

Engaging with Aboriginal people is the best way of developing an understanding of Aboriginal culture, local practices and protocols. We offer students various opportunities to voluntarily participate in Aboriginal health-oriented activities. Further information is available from the Indigenous health academics, the Community Engagement Team and academic staff in your discipline.

^[1] The UONDRH recognises that Australia is a multicultural society. While the training provided is specific to Australian Indigenous culture, there is a need for health professionals to be responsive to the cultural needs of other minority groups.