13. Indigenous health promotion

Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Health Promotion

(GradDipIndigHProm) KF022

Overview

The Indigenous Health Promotion program aims to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners the opportunity to add to their knowledge and skills in promoting community health. This includes identifying community needs and strengths, developing and implementing an action plan, then evaluating its impact.

The course was developed in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals and is based on national and international best practice in indigenous health promotion.

Admission

Applicants must demonstrate the following attributes:

• working experience in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities, and experience in engaging communities in action to improve their health

• prior learning that shows they can complete a course of study – the most obvious example is a degree or equivalent, but credit can be given for all forms of tertiary education

• knowledge of, and sensitivity to, working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people

• support for their candidature from their local communities and, where possible, their employers.

Structure

Students can complete the program in one year of full-time study. The program consists of six one-week workshops delivered in block release mode. The blocks are taught on campus at the University of Sydney.

Following each block, students return to their community/workplace and complete assessment tasks based on the learning achieved in the workshop. The final part of the program requires students to write a project demonstrating that they have consolidated their learning.

There is particular emphasis on demonstrating the importance of community participation and community development. Students may choose to complete their project while undertaking the second semester or as a part-time candidate for at least one semester of a second year.

The graduate diploma comprises six core units of study and a compulsory final project (see table of core units of study below and chapter 31 for unit of study details).

Indigenous health promotion core units of study

Further enquiries

Mr Shane Hearn
Phone: +61 2 9351 6499
Fax: + 61 2 9351 4179
Email:
Website: www.health.usyd.edu.au/future/coursework/indigenoushealth/index.php