Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
"To us health is so much more than simply not being sick. It’s about getting a balance between physical, mental, emotional, cultural and spiritual health. Health and healing are interwoven, which means that one can’t be separated from the other."
Associate Professor Tamara Mackean
College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University
We remain dedicated in our commitment to support better health outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
As part of our work to support the growth of the Indigenous physician workforce, there are a range of initiatives and opportunities available to enrich the cultural and clinical training journey of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander members.
We're continuing to support our members in the delivery of culturally safe health care, and advocate for broader health system change in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand that meets the health care needs of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, Māori, and Pacific peoples.
Read our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statement.
See more about our initiatives, advocacy and partnerships.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee provides strategic leadership to support implementation of the Indigenous Strategic Framework.
Find out how we're progressing our 5 strategic priorities.
See how we're progressing our Reconciliation Action Plan.
Initiatives
We have a range of initiatives and opportunities available to enrich the training journey of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander members.
Fee Reimbursement
The Fee Reimbursement Initiative is for eligible trainees and can be used to cover costs of annual training and/or first-attempt examinations for Basic and Advanced Training.
Indigenous Leadership Fund
The Indigenous Leadership Fund provides funding support to eligible trainees and Fellows for activities that contribute to leadership and development support. This includes but is not limited to conference attendance, relevant courses, cultural and leadership development opportunities.
First Nations Trainee Wellbeing Program
The First Nations Trainee Wellbeing Program is a program supporting the wellbeing and resilience of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Trainees.
Blak Wattle Coaching and Consulting, an Aboriginal-owned organisation, is delivering online group workshops that utilise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems to nurture skills and practices of support.
The program is fully funded for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander trainees and includes the option for one-on-one as well as group yarning sessions.
Complimentary physician briefcase
We have briefcases with equipment available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and Māori trainees eligible for the Divisional Clinical Exam or other relevant clinical assessments. Email the Deadly Doctors to request your briefcase.
AIDA's Specialist Trainee Support Program (STSP)
We're one of 11 non-GP Specialist Medical Colleges working with Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) on the STSP to nurture the growth of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specialist workforce. The STSP provides ongoing, tailored and culturally appropriate support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainees. STSP initiatives include:
- one-on-one coaching
- monthly online group yarning sessions
- trainee workshops at the AIDA conference
- Yarn Up sessions providing Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander doctors with information about RACP training pathways
For more information, email AIDA on stsp@aida.org.au
Indigenous Scholarships & Prizes
We have a range of scholarships that support medical graduates and current RACP trainees who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, Māori or Pacific peoples on their chosen career path to becoming a physician.
See Indigenous Scholarships & Prizes for more information on how to apply.
Flexible Training Policy
Our Flexible Training Policy improves equity, wellbeing and inclusion in training, and ensures focus on educational outcomes is maintained.
Advocacy
We remain unwavering in our commitment to support better health outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Voice to Parliament
Read our public statement supporting a Voice to Parliament, reiterating our long-standing commitment to addressing Indigenous health inequities in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Kids Catchup
The Kids Catch Up campaign was launched in February 2022 to help children and young people to catch up from the various setbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic and includes a focus on First Nations children.
Raise the Age
The College is a member of the
Raise the Age National Steering Committee, advocating to increase the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) to at least 14 years of age across all jurisdictions, without exceptions and no carve outs.
To support the Raise the Age campaign, our members have participated in activities at both Federal and State levels, including:
- providing expert evidence at government inquiries and to media
- making representations to Government Ministers and providing specialist knowledge and advice for submissions on health policies.
Partnerships
We have longstanding health-focused relationships with Aboriginal health organisations to strengthen our cultural capability and the provision of culturally safe best practice approaches across the College.
Current partner organisations include:
Artwork credit
Healing Place by Riki Salam of We are 27, developed for the RACP. The artwork depicts a great place of knowledge and healing.
Banners are from the Healing Place artwork.
Circular motifs represent stars helping people to navigate from different places and country.