The University of Melbourne leads in effort to increase Indigenous agenda in medicine

The University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences has moved to increase the number of Indigenous students and staff in the faculty, by creating the role of Associate Dean (Indigenous Development).

The role is a first for Australian universities and will focus on reviewing pathways for Indigenous students to study health sciences and on implementing an Indigenous staff employment strategy for the faculty.

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Professor Jim Angus, AO, said it was a positive and exciting development.

‘I am proud to make this announcement as another example of this faculty leading in the field of medical education. This time it is to champion the needs and increase the numbers of our Indigenous students and staff in the faculty,’ he said.

Currently there are 25 Indigenous students studying health sciences and 11 Indigenous people are employed by the Faculty.

Over the next three years, the faculty aims to mirror the ratio of Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff to that in the general community. This will mean reaching a target of 50 Indigenous staff by 2013. Student ratios will also be increased over a five to ten year period.

The inaugural Associate Dean is Mr Shaun Ewen, one of the Indigenous academics in the faculty. He is also Deputy Director of the Onemda VicHealth Koori Health Unit and Senior Lecturer in Indigenous Health. Mr Ewen led Onemda’s successful application for a University team teaching award in 2010, based on Indigenous health education. He currently has oversight of the Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand, Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) project.

‘This new role will send the message that the University of Melbourne is serious about leading change to benefit Indigenous people wishing to fulfill a career in the health sciences. I look forward to the challenge of making this goal a reality,’ he said.

?With the implementation of the Melbourne Model, the faculty is in a unique position nationally regarding student pathways into its programs. Working closely with the Australian Health Workforce Institute, we will be identifying the links between the TAFE sector and the university health science sector, to identify, map, and market specific student pathways.’

’By 2013 we aim to have some very clear pathways in place which include our relationships with the Victorian Aboriginal community, and relevant schools, to meet longer term targets of 5 to ten years to make significant increases in Indigenous student numbers,? Mr Ewen said.

’For Indigenous staff, we will be working towards a more community appropriate approach to raising awareness of all of the possible positions that arise at the University, including working closely with Human Resources in terms of how position descriptions are written, highlighting the supports that are currently in place for Indigenous staff, and including plans for staff development, including a staff mentoring program,? Mr Ewen said.

Professor Angus said aiming for population parity by 2013 was ambitious but added, ‘I believe we can make a significant difference in our Faculty and will work hard with the new Associate Dean to do so.’