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Medical Deans & AIDA working together to deliver doctors who will make a difference
Working together to deliver doctors who will make a difference
The Collaboration Agreement between the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) and the Medical Deans of Australia and New Zealand (Medical Deans) continues to deliver real outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health today with the biannual Indigenous Knowledge Initiative being held in Sydney.
“The initiative recognises the journey of learning that medical schools undertake to acknowledge the value and significance of Indigenous knowledge,” says AIDA president, Associate Professor Peter O’Mara. The day includes a visit by Medical Deans to the Aboriginal Medical Service Western Sydney (AMSWS), Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation Aboriginal Medical Service (TACAMS) and participating in an education session conducted by the Aboriginal Medical Services.
“The Indigenous Knowledge Initiative is one of the many joint ventures in the collaboration agreement between the two peak organisations, which is aimed at leading the way in realising the potential of Indigenous medical students as well as improving the capacity of non-Indigenous medical students to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“The partnership has been remarkably fruitful,” says Professor O’Mara, “the Medical Deans recognise that making a lasting impact is not simply about funding and infrastructure, but genuinely understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, lives, cultures and communities.”
Professor Justin Beilby, President of the Medical Deans – which comprises the Deans of Australia’s 18 university medical schools and the two New Zealand schools – says the initiative reflects Medical Deans’ very strong and sustained commitment to collaborate with AIDA to improve Indigenous Health.
“This is through not only the education and training in Indigenous Health of all medical students through the
medical curriculum but also in making sure that individual Deans, in their leadership roles, are equipped with the understanding and knowledge of the health issues of Indigenous Australians, and potential strategies that the Deans can influence to improve the health outcomes of Indigenous Australians.”
Professor O’Mara says: “Together we’re delivering future doctors who are absolutely committed to better health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and are armed with the capabilities to achieve this.”
Contacts:
Medical Deans of Australia and New Zealand – Justin Beilby: 0403 017 457
Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association – Jessica Jeeves: 0439 754 425
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