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Australia’s medical schools launch Indigenous health curriculum

25 August 2004 - University of Melbourne - Media Release- A nationally agreed curriculum framework for the inclusion of Indigenous health in medical curricula will be launched by former Governor-General, Sir William Deane and senior Indigenous health authority, Professor Lowitja O’Donoghue, at the Koorie Heritage Trust on Friday August 27.

The CDAMS Indigenous Health curriculum framework is the result of a joint initiative between the Committee of Deans of Australian Medical Schools (CDAMS) and the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health in response to the strategic framework for the inclusion of Indigenous health in core medical curricula.

The project, which was hosted and delivered by the VicHealth Koori Health Research and Community Development Unit at the University of Melbourne, has been under development for more than 12 months.

This involved the completion of an audit of existing Indigenous health content in core medical education and the establishment of a nationally agreed curriculum framework.

The objective of the curriculum framework is to improve, strengthen and develop training for medical professionals in both core and vocational education regarding the health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Convenor of the Project Steering Committee and Dean of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne, Professor James Angus said, “We believe the framework we have developed will ensure medical students nationwide will receive the right information and skills to enable them to become the best doctors we can produce for the improvement of Indigenous health in Australia.”

“We are excited and enthusiastic about the development of this curriculum framework and we look forward to the challenges of working with our schools and other key stakeholders to facilitate its implementation.”

The curriculum framework is expected to be an investment in the future of not only the health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, but the training of a more competent medical workforce, and an improvement in the health status of all Australians.

Attending and speaking at the launch of the curriculum are:

• Professor Lowitja O’Donoghue – senior Indigenous health authority;
• Former Governor-General, Sir William Deane;
• Professor James Angus – Convenor of the Project Steering Committee and Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne;
• Professor S. Bruce Dowton, Chair of CDAMS and Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales;
• Aunty Joy Murphy-Wandin – Elder of the Kulin Nation.

WHAT: Launch of the CDAMS Indigenous Health Curriculum Framework

WHERE: Koorie Heritage Trust, 295 King St., Melbourne

WHEN: 12:00-1:00PM, Friday 27 August

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY
The media is invited to attend the launch and time has been set aside for media questions and photographs. A media pack will also be available at the launch.

Please contact Elaine Mulcahy, Media Officer on 8344 0181 or 0421 641 506 for more information.

More information about this article:

• Elaine Mulcahy
  Media Liaison
  emulcahy@unimelb.edu.au
  8344 0181
• Gregory Philips
  National Program Manager
  8344 0640
  glphil@unimelb.edu.au

Source: The University of Melbourne

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