Nurses and Midwives; National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation; Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association; Indigenous Dentists’ Association of Australia; and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers’ Association. Thirty students from years 10, 11 and 12 participated in the programme which aimed to: increase knowledge of health careers; increase knowledge of pathways into tertiary study; and the aspiration and confidence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to stay in the education pipeline and achieve a career within the health profession. With funding from the (then) Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the programme was delivered in two components over a period of six months. The first component, a one-week residential workshop in Canberra, provided students with: information about pathways into vocational and higher education; knowledge of a broad range of health professions; the opportunity to network with Indigenous health professionals and leaders; and exposure to a range of national institutions. The second component, mentoring, allowed programme participants to build upon the experiences gained during the residential workshop by connecting the participant with an Indigenous mentor within their desired career. An evaluation process of the Murra Mullangari Pathways Alive and Well programme – demonstrates that the programme achieved its aims and objectives. Programme participants reported an increase in their knowledge of the various health careers and pathways into university study and vocational education and training. They also reported an increase in their knowledge of the health issues impacting on Indigenous people. Students advised that the programme built their confidence and aspirations toward achieving a career within the health profession. Four programme participants who completed their schooling in 2013 have commenced tertiary studies in health disciplines since the completion of the programme. Addressing mental health and suicide prevention as a new priority There is an entrenched mental health crisis among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that must be addressed. Mental health problems, including self-harm and suicide, have been reported at double the rate of that of non-Indigenous people for at least a decade. Recent data suggests the situation is getting worse, as set out in the text box below. Text Box: The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health gap
Nurses and Midwives; National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation; Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association; Indigenous Dentists’ Association of Australia; and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers’ Association. Thirty students from years 10, 11 and 12 participated in the programme which aimed to: increase knowledge of health careers; increase knowledge of pathways into tertiary study; and the aspiration and confidence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to stay in the education pipeline and achieve a career within the health profession. With funding from the (then) Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the programme was delivered in two components over a period of six months. The first component, a one-week residential workshop in Canberra, provided students with: information about pathways into vocational and higher education; knowledge of a broad range of health professions; the opportunity to network with Indigenous health professionals and leaders; and exposure to a range of national institutions. The second component, mentoring, allowed programme participants to build upon the experiences gained during the residential workshop by connecting the participant with an Indigenous mentor within their desired career. An evaluation process of the Murra Mullangari – Pathways Alive and Well programme demonstrates that the programme achieved its aims and objectives. Programme participants reported an increase in their knowledge of the various health careers and pathways into university study and vocational education and training. They also reported an increase in their knowledge of the health issues impacting on Indigenous people. Students advised that the programme built their confidence and aspirations toward achieving a career within the health profession. Four programme participants who completed their schooling in 2013 have commenced tertiary studies in health disciplines since the completion of the programme. Addressing mental health and suicide prevention as a new priority There is an entrenched mental health crisis among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that must be addressed. Mental health problems, including self-harm and suicide, have been reported at double the rate of that of non-Indigenous people for at least a decade. Recent data suggests the situation is getting worse, as set out in the text box below. Text Box: The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health gap
CTG_progress_and_priorities_report_2015%20-%20Final%20Version.docx