Who should attend
This course is designed for all health professionals who work with Indigenous peoples and communities in remote Australia. Community workers and any professional working with Indigenous peoples will find the course invaluable.

About this course
This course provides health professionals with a foundation for working effectively in remote and Indigenous communities. It examines significant issues remote communities face and the subsequent impact on service delivery. It places an emphasis on understanding health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

It explores the social determinants of health, the cause and effect relationship of Australia’s colonisation and development and the poorer health outcomes experienced by Indigenous Australians. Policies (past and present) in Indigenous Affairs, the manifestations of racism and issues of social justice and human rights will be discussed.

The course provides a foundation for developing a better understanding, practice and self-care for the remote health workforce. Cultural safety and primary health care are presented as strategies towards improving Indigenous health outcomes through the provision of clinically sound and culturally respectful services and providers. It looks at living and working in remote areas as a professional, examines sources of stress associated with remote practice and suggests strategies to manage stress.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this workshop the participants will be able to:

• Describe the distinct features and definitions of the remote environment including: geographical, sociological, cultural and health differentials
• Identify the advanced scope of health professional practice required in remote contexts, the unique inter-professional nature of remote and Indigenous health practice and the importance of both individual accountability and working as part of a team
• Examine the relationship between world view and well-being
• Describe the history and dominance of the western world view
• Define and identify examples of stereotyping and racism and exploring how they impact the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples
• Critically examine and analyse the concept of cultural safety and reflect on its relevance to health service delivery
• Describe the relationship between historical factors and the health status and wellbeing of Indigenous people today, identifying the major influences and policies in Indigenous Australian history and contextualizing these to global Indigenous experiences.
  
  

Comments from course participants
"It was useful having local Indigenous lecturers answer questions
and provide information on cultural safety and experiences"