11. Indigenous Health Studies

Courses of study

The discipline of Indigenous Health Studies provides education in Indigenous health and community development for a range of health professionals at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and conducts and supervises research in Indigenous community health. The Bachelor of Health Science (Aboriginal Health and Community Development) is an innovative program designed to provide students with maximum recognition of prior learning and flexible course options. In Years 3 and 4 of the program, students may choose to specialise in one of four specialist streams (research, Indigenous mental health and counselling, primary health Care, health policy, planning and management) or choose individual units of study best suited to the needs of their workplace, community and individual interests. All students are required to complete core units of study in research, project development and evaluation and professional practice.

Two enabling programs are specifically offered for Indigenous students: The Aboriginal Health Science Preparatory Program is undertaken prior to formal enrolment in an undergraduate program, and the Aboriginal Health Science Support Program provides a ‘reduced load’ option making it possible for students to undertake the first year of their undergraduate program over two years.

The postgraduate Indigenous community health coursework programs are offered by off-campus mode. The Graduate Certificate/Master of Health Sciences (Indigenous Community Health stream) equip graduates for work in the areas of Indigenous health promotion, education and training, management and research. See Chapter 20 for further information on the graduate program.

Multiple research opportunities are available in the discipline of Indigenous Health Studies. Key research areas include community development, Indigenous environmental health and housing, Indigenous health and education, Indigenous men’s health and leisure, Indigenous men’s health and primary health care and health promotion. See Chapter 31 for information on the research degrees offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Professional information

The discipline focuses on the health and community development needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. All the courses adopt a multidisciplinary approach to teaching and learning in the health sciences in order to prepare students for the very broad range of future employment opportunities available to graduates, including primary health care, health promotion, health education, community development, drug and alcohol, women’s and men’s health services, health policy and program planning and evaluation. A number of important principles underlie the courses offered in the discipline including promoting social justice, building community capacity, enhancing cultural understanding, developing Indigenous health professionals as agents of change, learning from the Indigenous community, adopting ethical approaches to professional practice in Indigenous health, and developing skills in ethical research in Indigenous health.

Further information

Telephone: +61 2 9351 9161
Website: www.fhs.usyd.edu.au/

No first year intake from 2008

Aboriginal Health and Community Development is a specialised field of community and health work. It involves the identification of health and health-related problems and the solutions to these problems within the context of the broader socio-economic development of Aboriginal communities. Community participation and initiative are strongly emphasised. Graduates from this course will be equipped to develop programs which meet the health and community development needs of Aboriginal people. They may work with specific client groups (such as in drug and alcohol or women’s health services) or in broader health and community fields. Employment opportunities also exist in Aboriginal identified positions in health and community centres, in health promotion and education, and in a range of community development roles. The Bachelor of Health Science (Aboriginal Health and Community Development) course is a four year full-time block attendance program.

Course outline

The course outline for the Bachelor of Health Science (Aboriginal Health and Community Development) is presented in Table 11.1. Electives are listed in the table following. Unit of study descriptions are found in Chapter 19.

Table 11.1: Bachelor of Health Science (Aboriginal Health and Community Development) Pass

Unit of study	Credit points	A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition	Session
Course code SH059: Pass course; full-time, 4 years, block attendance plus off-campus
Year 3
Semester 1
Electives [18] (see note 1)
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 18 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
AHCD3009 Professional Practice III	6	P AHCD2020 Professional Practice II Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 2
Elective [6] (see note 1)
Research elective [6] (see note 2)
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 18 CREDIT POINTS
Year 4
Semester 1
AHCD4001 Indigenous Community Health Project B	6	A Knowledge of project planning P AHCD3008 Indigenous Community Health Project A Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
Electives [18] (see note 1)
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
AHCD4002 Professional Practice IV	12	P AHCD3009 Professional Practice III Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
Electives [12] (see note 1)
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Notes
1. Pass students will choose 4 electives in Year 3 and 5 electives in Year 4. All electives are presented in related streams as outlined in the elective list below. Students may choose to specialise by selecting all electives from one stream, or may select across streams. Students may also choose electives from other discplines to a maximum of 3 units of study.
2. Pass students will choose one research elective in Year 3 selected from the Research stream (see list below).

Aboriginal Health and Community Development electives

Unit of study	Credit points	A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition	Session
Electives are 6 credit points each, offered subject to sufficient demand and staff availability
Counselling and Indigenous Mental Health stream
AHCD4042 Wellness	6	P AHCD1032 Introduction to Counselling Skills Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
Indigenous Community Development and Management stream
AHCD4032 Health Planning, Policy and Evaluation A	6	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD4053 Human Rights and Social Justice	6	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
Primary Health Care and Health Promotion stream
AHCD4014 Current Issues in Health, Law & Medicine	6	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD4034 Indigenous Community Health Promotion A	6	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD4035 Primary Health Care III	6	P AHCD2015 Primary Health Care II Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD4049 Skills for Teaching Health	6	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
Research stream
AHCD4018 Action Research	6	P AHCD2022 Introduction to Health Research Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2

This supplementary program is studied concurrently with a degree program. Students undertake a selection of the following units, based on an individual needs assessment conducted by Yooroang Garang, and depending on the students’ course and course load. The average number of hours in the Support Program is six to eight hours per week for the first two years of enrolment and one to four hours in their third year.

Admission requirements

Admission to the Aboriginal Health Science Support Program is dependent upon satisfying the eligibility criteria under the Cadigal Policy (see below). Selection of students under this Policy may be based on an interview. All students who are offered a place in an award course under the Cadigal Policy may participate in the Aboriginal Health Science Support Program during the first three years of enrolment.

Course outline

The course outline for the Aboriginal Health Science Support Program is presented in Table 11.2. Units of study are described in Chapter 19.

Table 11.2: Aboriginal Health Science Support Program

Unit of study	Credit points	A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition	Session
Course code SM008: Part-time, 3 years
Students enrol in the following units of study either in Semester 1 or Semester 2. Average student hours: 6-8 hours per week over first two years, 1-4 hours per week over third year.
AHCD1006 Study Skills	4	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD1009 Anatomy Support (A)	4	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD1010 Anatomy Support (B)	2	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 2
AHCD1011 Biological Sciences Orientation	2	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 2
AHCD1012 Biological Sciences Support (A)	6	Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 1,	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD1013 Biological Sciences Support (B)	3	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1
AHCD1014 Physics Support	6	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD1015 Research Methods Support (1)	3	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 2
AHCD1016 Professional Studies Support (1A)	2	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD1017 Professional Studies Support (1B)	4	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD1018 Biomechanics Support (1)	2	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD1019 Neurobiology Support	3	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD1020 Behavioural Sciences Support (A)	2	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD1021 Behavioural Sciences Support (B)	6	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD1057 Biological Sciences Support	6	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD2008 Biomechanics Support (2)	2	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD2009 Professional Studies Support (2)	2	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
AHCD2011 Research Methods Support (2B)	4	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1 Semester 2
Notes
1. AHCD1010 includes 2 credit points prior to start of academic year.
2. AHCD1018 includes 1 credit point prior to start of year.

The Cadigal program is an access and support program for indigenous people who wish to study at the University of Sydney.

Students entering through the Cadigal program are offered a comprehensive program of academic support which includes:

• the option to enrol in a reduced load for the first two years of the degree, and

• concurrent enrolment in the Aboriginal Health Science Support Program which supplements and supports the work being done in the degree program.

HSC applicants are considered for entry on the basis of their Universities Admission Index (UAI) and under the Cadigal program the UAI for entry is lower than that required for mainstream entry.

Mature age applicants are interviewed to assess their suitability for study.

Consideration is given to educational background, life and employment experience and motivations, goals and interests.

Admission requirements

Admission to the Aboriginal Health Science Preparatory Program is based on an assessment (including interview) conducted by Yooroang Garang. It is expected that students who do not meet the eligibility criteria under the Cadigal Policy, may apply for entry to the Preparatory Program. However it should be noted that successful completion of the Preparatory Program does not guarantee a student a place in a degree course, but does provide them eligibility for selection under the Cadigal Policy. The Preparatory Program is open to students with an UAI lower than that needed under the Cadigal Program and mature age students over the age of 21.

Course outline

The course outline for the Aboriginal Health Science Preparatory Program is presented in Table 11.3. Units of study are described in Chapter 19.

Table 11.3: Aboriginal Health Science Preparatory Program

Unit of study	Credit points	A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition	Session
Course code SM013: Full-time; SM012: Full-time (block mode)
Semester 1
AHCD1058 Maths Workshop A	4	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1
AHCD1059 Academic Skills Workshop A	4	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1
AHCD1060 Human Biology Workshop A	4	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1
AHCD1061 Aboriginal Studies A	4	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1
AHCD1062 Anatomy Workshop A	4	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1
AHCD1063 Behavioural Science Workshop A	4	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
AHCD1064 Mathematics Workshop B	4	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 2
AHCD1065 Academic Skills Workshop B	4	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 2
AHCD1066 Human Biology Workshop B	4	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 2
AHCD1067 Aboriginal Studies B	4	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 2
AHCD1068 Anatomy Workshop B	4	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 2
AHCD1069 Behavioural Science Workshop B	4	Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 2
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS