FACILITY
Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health (CAMDH)
To support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to become leaders in Aboriginal health
The Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health (CAMDH) aims to increase and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aspiring to graduate as doctors, dentists, podiatrists and become leaders in the field of Aboriginal Health. CAMDH also develops and teaches curriculum that values Aboriginal knowledge and processes to create a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal people accessing health care.
CAMDH was established in 1996 to assist the Health and Medical Sciences Schools to:
- Improve the recruitment and retention of Aboriginal students in Medicine and Dentistry.
- Collaborate with departments across the Health and Medical Sciences Schools teaching in Aboriginal Health issues.
- Strengthen and build partnerships between CAMDH, Aboriginal organisations and departments within the University.
- Teach curriculum that reflects Aboriginal values, knowledge and processes.
- Develop a culturally safe workforce.
- Grow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders in health.
- Engage and collaborate with Aboriginal communities at the local, state, national and international level.
Careers in Health for Indigenous students at UWA
Vision
CAMDH aspires to be a Centre of excellence in teaching Aboriginal health through engaging and collaborating with the expertise of the Aboriginal community in curriculum development and delivery which reflects Aboriginal values, knowledge and processes.
Students are taught to think and lead, informed by an Aboriginal perspective which enables them to work in culturally safe and secure ways with Aboriginal people in achieving better health outcomes.
- Achieve better health outcomes for the Aboriginal community
- Grow Aboriginal health professionals who are leaders in the field
- Promote Aboriginal education through teaching and learning
- Develop culturally safe, appropriate and secure programs
- Encourage health research and build capacity of students to do Aboriginal research
- Provide cultural knowledge and expertise
- Engage with Aboriginal community and Elders
Areas of responsibility
- Develop and deliver a curriculum promoting the concept of a holistic health care and cultural security in relation to Aboriginal health and health care practice, research and learning.
- Encourage and promote postgraduate studies in medicine and dentistry for Aboriginal students and graduates.
- Encourage and build capacity in Aboriginal health with non-Aboriginal students, graduates and teachers.
- Support the professional development of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal medical and dental practitioners.
- Liaise, support and collaborate on joint research projects with Aboriginal community health and health-related organisations, UWA and other universities.
- Develop and network with other universities delivering Aboriginal health curriculum to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal medical students and graduates.
- Provide advice, direction and leadership on Aboriginal health to the community, UWA and government.
- Promote an understanding of the importance of an inter-sectoral approach to health across the University.
- Develop an understanding of the diversity and range of health needs in urban, rural and remote Aboriginal communities.
Indigenous Pathway Application Process
CAMDH provides an Indigenous pathway into post graduate degrees of Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), Doctor of Clinical Podiatry and Social Work.
CAMDH in coordination with the School of Indigenous Studies also offers the Direct Entry Pathway (DEP) to the post graduate courses.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people may contact CAMDH at [email protected] to apply for entry to these post graduate degree courses if they have the relevant educational backgrounds and experience.
With the Direct Entry Pathway or DEP, the entry to the postgraduate course is assured, provided the applicant satisfy the academic performance requirements in the required major.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants applying to enrol into the UWA medical program are not required to:
- Sit the GAMSAT/ACER
- ATAR is not a pre-requisite
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants must have:
- GPA of 5 or above
- Completed an undergraduate degree or
- Currently in the process of completing their degree.
CAMDH has two intakes:
1st Intake July
2nd Intake October
When are applications due:
- Mid-June
- Mid-September
Application document requirements:
- Complete CAMDH application form here
- Proof of Aboriginality and or Torres Strait Islander
- Require Certificate of Aboriginality from a registered Aboriginal corporation
- Academic record/transcript
- GPA score must be 5 or above
- CV/Resume
CAMDH Interviews are held:
- End of July
- End of October
Process of interviews
- Attend a one to two-day Interview Assessment at CAMDH, Bilya Marlee Building
- Complete three Science based assessments:
- Chemistry
- Human Biology
- Physiology
- Undertake a panel interview
- Successful applicants will be notified of their acceptance into the postgraduate course/degree within two weeks after the interview.
Outreach programs
Through the School of Indigenous Studies and the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health, UWA offers a wide range of programs aimed at encouraging and fostering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary students to complete Year 12 and pursue tertiary education at university. These programs provide a pathway to university for students from Year 8 to Year 12.
The program's objective is to expose students to various aspects of the university environment, including hands-on activities, meeting tertiary student role models and making informed decisions about their future education with the guidance of staff at the Centre.
Information on these programs are provided on the School of Indigenous Studies site.
- Year 8 Discovery Day
- Science, Engineering and Health Camp
- Year 12 Seminar
- Indigenous Expos
- Excursions to UWA
- UWA Campus Challenge
- Orientation
Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health Research
Improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people
through community-based research projects.
NEWS
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Five Indigenous women were among 206 students to graduate as doctors at a ceremony held this week in The University of Western Australia’s Winthrop Hall.
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A research team led by Dr Kate Smith at The University of Western Australia has been awarded $2.5 million in federal funding to reduce the prevalence of dementia in Aboriginal Australians.
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New research led by The University of Western Australia has revealed that one in two patients admitted to hospital with a cardiovascular disease is suffering from multiple chronic medical conditions which required complex treatment. The rate was significantly higher among Aboriginal people, affecting three in four patients.
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Student Doctor, Adrienne’s Houghton is a proud Ngarluma Yindjibarndi woman currently in her 3rd year of Medicine at the University of Western Australia.
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Related links
Contact the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health
Location
Level 2, Bilya Marlee Building, UWA Crawley Campus, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009 Australia
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