Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Entry Pathway
There is a different pathway process for those who apply as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicant. Find out more about the pathway.
We encourage applicants to contact the School of Medicine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support office at IndigenousFutureDr@westernsydney.edu.au or call the Student Services Hub Infoline on 1300 668 370 to discuss your interest in applying.
Course Structure - Understanding and Immersion Strategy
The Western Sydney School of Medicine considers understanding of and immersion in an Aboriginal Health attachment to be core requirements of the MD curriculum. This is one strategy towards addressing “Close the Gap” in life expectancy between the non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal people in our communities.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture, Society and Health curriculum is vertically integrated throughout the MD with the overall aim of the curriculum being to support students to build their competency, particularly in cross-cultural and inequitable health contexts, through introducing them to the 'real-life' of health and well-being for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. The curriculum theme 'Indigenous Health' explains how various factors, including historical, cultural and political, interact to influence the health of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture, Society and Health learning and assessment activities occur throughout the curriculum.
During the Applied Clinical Sciences component of the course students will complete an attachment in Aboriginal Health. The Aboriginal Health attachments have been developed with the underlying principle of engagement of students with an Aboriginal community and to integrate cultural immersion with medical education. This program puts students in the heart of the Aboriginal community to experience Aboriginal health in urban, rural and remote settings and provides a practical experience in consulting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients in a culturally safe environment. This also provides a unique opportunity for students to observe the complex roles of Aboriginal Health Workers and to see multi-disciplinary health care in action. This whole program would not have been possible without the truly generous response from the Aboriginal Medical Services.
The School of Medicine subscribes to the immersion model of learning and because doctors form only a small part of the service delivery, we expect students to observe, participate and look for any opportunities to participate in all aspects of health care delivery. Aboriginal Medical Services have a preventative/primary health care model which focuses on community based programs like school screening, immunisation, Healthy for Life activity groups, antenatal classes and much more.
All students in Year 5 (both domestic and international) are required to spend 5 weeks in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCHO) (AMS). We have a large cohort of students and only two Aboriginal Medical Services in the Greater West of Sydney so we have sought & gained placements all over NSW. One is located in Sydney but most are located in rural and remote areas of NSW.
Support for Success
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are provided a welcoming and supportive environment, one which promotes independent thinking and diversity. Find out more about student support for success
The Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education provides Western Sydney University Indigenous students with support and opportunities to ensure their success throughout the course of their degree. Offering a culturally safe environment, support with enrolment and orientation processes and much more, you will find seven Badanami Centres across different WSU campuses. Find out more about the Badanami Centre and what it can offer you.