Monash Rural Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Framework launched in Mildura
The Monash Rural Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Framework 2021-2030 was officially launched in Mildura on Tuesday 12 December 2023. The framework highlights Monash Rural Health’s commitment to creating a culturally safe environment for students and staff, and developing a medical workforce to meet the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The launch event brought together Monash Rural Health staff, representatives from local health services including Mallee District Aboriginal Services, schools and community organisations.
Aunty Barb Gibson-Thorpe, Manager of the Aboriginal Health Unit at Mildura Base Public Hospital, opened the event with an Acknowledgement of Country.
Head of School, Professor Shane Bullock, spoke about the development of the framework over the last three years. He acknowledged how fitting it was to be launching this in Mildura, where a World Cafe with Monash Rural Health staff established the imperatives of a localised framework to help increase the participation of Indigenous students from rural communities in healthcare degrees, as well as incorporating Aboriginal knowledge and perspectives into the curriculum.
“The framework lays out the blueprint for the way in which our School will engage with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the Monash Rural Health footprint. We want to listen respectfully to communities and together identify ways in which we can create study and career opportunities for their young people within culturally safe environments,” said Professor Bullock.
Monash Rural Health is committed to implementing this framework and focused on its four framing pillars:
- Upholding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and respecting students, staff and community.
- Increasing the participation and supporting success of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
- Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and content into curriculum.
- Growing research contributions to address and serve the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.
David Byrnes, Monash Rural Health’s Aboriginal Communities Engagement Lead, led the event and spoke about the work already underway to meet the framework’s four pillars, such as opportunities for Aboriginal secondary school students to learn more about careers in health through hands-on activities delivered by Monash medical students.
"We have been working closely with our local secondary schools to provide the students an opportunity to see what Monash Rural Health can offer and how we can work towards creating a career pathway into Medicine or Allied Health. We look forward to expanding activities these in 2024."
Barkindji Ngiyampaa Maligundidj artist Tracy Wise created the artwork that adorns the Framework booklet’s cover. Entitled ‘Koote Wurrin’ (One Day in GunaiKurnai language), the work. Tracy shared the story behind the artwork, which is inspired by the creators Bunjil and Waa, Emu and Brolga and Borun and Tuk. The artwork reflects the colours of the sky, the landscape, the waters and the sea, and each First Nations group within Monash Rural Health’s locations; Dja Dja Wurrung, Latji Latji, Ngintait, Gunakurnai and Bunurong/Boonwurrung of the south east Kulin Nation and the relationship with Monash Rural Health.