Why study Indigenous health?
The Indigenous health elective stream deepens the understanding of the factors that influence Indigenous health. This program caters to the growing Indigenous public health workforce by providing specialised understanding of the social determinants of health and how they affect Indigenous communities in Australia and globally.
It prepares students for careers in Indigenous health research, policy development, community engagement and service delivery. The program also emphasises the principles of effective collaboration with Indigenous communities, institutions, workers, and practitioners in critical areas of Indigenous health intervention.
Study options in Indigenous health
Why indigenous health at Melbourne?
Explore our industry-leading research outputs:
Gain career-defining experiences at Onemda, the University of Melbourne’s premierIndigenous group specialising in public health research to improve health and wellbeing outcomes through industry and international partnerships and collaborations.
Expand the depth and breadth of your learning at Onemda’s research and education units:
- Indigenous Health Equity
- Indigenous Studies
- Indigenous Eye Health.
Contribute to the distinctive Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. Become part of a community of health-focused researchers informed by traditional knowledge.
- Enhance your leadership potential with the Indigenous Health Leadership Program and bring about effective change for Indigenous health in Australia and further afield.
- Gwenda Freeman
- Professor Andrea Clarke
- Emily Darnett
Diverse careers
We are a global institution, and our qualifications enable you to progress in your career. The range of roles you can expect after completing a public health education include, but are not limited to:
- Aboriginal Health Practitioner
- Aboriginal Health Worker
- Aboriginal Mental Health and AOD Worker
- Aboriginal Health Liaison Officer
- Advanced Health Worker, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
- Aboriginal Mental Health Worker
- Community Engagement Officer
- Senior Consultant - Community Health and Social Policy - Indigenous Health
- Team leader - Indigenous Mental Health Intervention Program
Indigenous health sectors
Graduates from this elective stream often find themselves in roles within organisations such as:
- International research institutions e.g. CSIRO, the Max Planck Society and NASA
- United Nations agencies e.g. UNESCO, the World Health Organization and World Intellectual Property Organization
- Non-government organisations e.g. CARE Australia and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities
- Government departments e.g. National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Melbourne Water
- Statutory authorities e.g. the Australian Human Rights Commission, Australia Council for the Arts and the Australian Communications and Media Authority
- Software and computing companies e.g. IBM, Iress and Quantium
- Large financial services companies e.g. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) and National Australia Bank (NAB)
- Schools and professional training providers
Hear from our alumni
I undertook placements at Rumbalara Health Service, Shepparton and Wurli Wurlinjang Health Service, Katherine. These Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations are the epitome of self-determined, community tailored medicine. The course reinforced and refined change to my own practice and capacity to contribute to wider change, not as a leader, but as an agent of First Nations voices.
Dr. Adeline Gabriel, Specialist Certificate in Empowering Health in Aboriginal Communities, 2022