• Program aims to build student aspiration into health degrees, and to support local Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal rural health workforce
• Aims to ensure there are adequate training resources and opportunities for students to experience studying, living and working ‘in the bush’
• Community invited to hear guest speakers with more than 20 years’ experience in Indigenous health and Indigenous higher education

A new resource for future Indigenous health students has been created by the Three Rivers University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) Indigenous Health Success Team at Charles Sturt University and its partner organisations the University of Notre Dame (Australia), the University of NSW, and Western Sydney University.

The Indigenous Pathways Into Health Handbook acknowledges the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people undertaking health degrees and provides potential students with the information needed to navigate their way into different health degrees offered at the University.

The Three Rivers UDRH will launch the Indigenous Pathways Into Health Handbook on Monday 27 May at Charles Sturt University in Orange.

Three Rivers UDRH invites Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early school leavers, TAFE students, Aboriginal health workforce members, and community members to attend.

Those attending will have the opportunity to view the handbook through a presentation on the day.

Three Rivers UDRH Indigenous Health Success Lead Ms Jayarna Kay said, “The Handbook highlights the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders entering the rural health workforce, and details the support available for students while studying at the University.

“With the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students growing, now is the time to focus on developing an understanding of what high quality support, care and growth should look like for these potential students and their communities.

“We invite anyone with an interest in nursing, dentistry, allied health, medicine or working in Indigenous health, and anyone supporting an Indigenous person, to join us with our speakers to engage in the launch, share stories, and make suggestions for supporting our Indigenous community into the future.”

Ms Kay said the Aboriginal rural health workforce is also a primary area of concern in our region, with universities and government agencies working hard to ensure there are adequate training resources and opportunities for students to experience studying, living and working ‘in the bush’.

“The Charles Sturt University Three Rivers UDRH is one such initiative,” she said.

“We aim to support both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to live, study and work in regional and rural Australia.

“Our program also aims to engage with the local community and to provide regional leadership in addressing solutions towards improving recruitment of the rural health workforce.”

Guest speakers at the launch have been involved in both the Indigenous health sector and the Indigenous higher education for more than 20 years. They include:

• Mr Jamie Newman, CEO Orange Aboriginal Medical Service & CSU council member
• Ms Jayne Lawrence, Lecturer in Rural Indigenous Health, Three Rivers UDRH
• Ms Jayarna Kay, Indigenous Health Success Lead, Three Rivers UDRH
• Mr Nathan Peckham, CSU Strong Moves Coordinator
• And Strong Moves and Future Moves mentors

Three Rivers UDRH and Charles Sturt University will co-host the interactive launch at the Templars Mill at Charles Sturt University in Orange from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Monday the 27 May.

This is a free event, with lunch available, so participants are asked to please register and RSVP for catering purposes. Register via the Three Rivers UDRH Website: https://threerivers.csu.edu.au/news-and-events/events

For further information please contact Ms Nikki Royle, Indigenous Health Success Officer, Three Rivers University Department of Rural Health, Charles Sturt University in Orange on (02) 6365 7562 or via nroyle@csu.edu.au

Or check the website: threerivers.csu.edu.au