Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Health in Rural Communities

• Empower yourself to make a real difference in Aboriginal health in rural communities.
• Deepen your understanding of health from both Aboriginal and Western perspectives.
• Gain practical skills in community-based projects, community development, and research.

The Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Health in Rural Communities is designed to help you understand health in a holistic way. You'll explore how both Aboriginal and Western ways of knowing about health apply within Aboriginal communities, and how broader social factors shape health experiences. You'll delve into how Aboriginal and Western health knowledge systems interact within Aboriginal health services. You'll learn how historical events, social and cultural processes, and power dynamics impact the health journeys of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians. This course includes a hands-on, community-based project within an Aboriginal health setting, allowing you to gain practical skills.

Who is the Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Health in Rural Communities for?

This course is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and community development professionals and community members who are passionate about making a difference in Aboriginal health, particularly in rural communities. It's ideal for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples looking to engage in tertiary education and advance their skills and expertise in health and community development. It’s also for those who currently work in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community and health-related fields, such as Aboriginal health workers, health service managers, practitioners, consumer advocates, or policy group members, who want to deepen their knowledge and gain formal recognition.

This program is designed to support you in becoming a leader and a catalyst for positive change in Aboriginal health.

Why study the Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Health in Rural Communities?

Studying this Graduate Certificate offers a unique and impactful learning experience. You'll gain a rich understanding of the multifaceted factors influencing health in Aboriginal communities, directly from within those communities and through a blend of insightful academic perspectives.

The course is delivered in a blend of online learning and in-person intensives. In Year 1 you will complete two compulsory subjects through the Department of Rural Health (more details: Specialist Certificate in Empowering Health in Indigenous Communities). For these subjects, you'll attend a one-week on-campus teaching intensive at our Shepparton Campus, allowing you to spend your time in the community, supported by online tutorials and individualised assistance.

You then choose two elective subjects from the Master of Public Health program through the School of Population and Global Health. These electives will explore how historical, social, and cultural processes, as well as power dynamics, shape health experiences and outcomes.

Pathways for the Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Health in Rural Communities

Graduates of this program are given advanced standing in the Master of Public Health, meaning you'll receive 50 credit points towards that degree. This provides a clear and supported pathway if you wish to continue your studies and gain a masters qualification in public health.