Many believe the key to improving the appalling statistics we continually see on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health is the production of more indigenous doctors. The indigenous population is still lagging behind the rest of the country in terms of life expectancy, infant mortality and chronic disease. Many indigenous communities do not have access to health services which makes the fact that most of the diseases plaguing indigenous communities are preventable all the harder to accept.

There are currently only 140 indigenous doctors practising in Australia in addition to 150 studying medicine in universities across the country. Many indigenous Australians feel uncomfortable or embarrassed to visit a non-indigenous doctor which further feeds the declining health of the communities where there is no access to indigenous doctors.

Significant growth in the number of young indigenous Australians going to medical school is integral to an upturn in indigenous health fortunes. Unfortunately for most indigenous children the thought of attending medical school is only a pipe-dream. They typically require two things to make this dream a reality, the funding and more importantly the belief and inspiration.

In an attempt to make a difference Wavelength has partnered with the University of New South Wales to sponsor the Wavelength International Indigenous Travel Award.

The award provides funds for 2 first year UNSW indigenous medical students to travel back to their indigenous community during the academic year. The student must commit to promoting studies in medicine to young people in their community through talks or presentations at a local high school or community group. The student must also provide a written report on their experience and the impact the award has made on their studies.



Above (L-R): Hamish Fejo (student award winner), Professor Lisa Jackson-Pulver, Aunty Ali Golding (Elder in Residence, UNSW Medicine) and Wavelength International Directors Dr John Bethell and Claire Ponsford.

According to the Dean of UNSW Medicine, Professor Peter J Smith “The Wavelength International Indigenous Travel Award provides much needed funds to our first year medicine students at the start of their academic journey.  We are grateful for the support of donors such as Wavelength, who share our vision to improve Indigenous health outcomes through training more indigenous doctors.”

It is hoped that this ability to return medical students back to their indigenous community will help to inspire the next generation to pursue a career in medicine and help to close the gap in Australian healthcare.

For more information on UNSW's commitment to indigenous health click here.

 

Above: UNSW's Kensington campus located in the Sydney's eastern suburbs