The Northern Territory Medical Program aims to improve the cultural competence of medical and allied health students that study with us, enhancing the cultural safety and health of Indigenous and non-English speaking patients. In particular, emphasis is placed on Aboriginal Health and Cultural issues.
Two full-time Cultural Advisors are employed by the Medical Program, based at our Darwin and Alice Springs campuses. They offer cultural awareness teaching sessions and cultural support to students and staff at the Medical Program. Students are encouraged to work with these Cultural Advisors and other Aboriginal Liaison Officers, Health Workers and Interpreters based at teaching sites. Royal Darwin Hospital offers regular free two hour Indigenous Cultural Information sessions that cover topics such as kinship systems, language, communication, communication styles, social and other issues affecting Aboriginal clients attending hospital.
Students completing a full year of study in the Northern Territory will be given cross cultural education specific to their location in either Darwin, Katherine or Alice Springs. Short placement students who get the opportunity to visit a remote community must undergo cultural training before their trip.
The NTMP encourages Indigenous students and graduates to undertake study through our medical and allied health programs. Within the Flinders University Medical Program an Indigenous Entry Stream has been established to assist Indigenous people to apply to the course. A major focus of the NT Medical Program is the recruitment and training of Indigenous people to become doctors in the Territory. In order to assist Indigenous people's successful transition to the Flinders Medical program, Flinders University has secured a federal government grant. The grant will support the development of pathways for Indigenous people to study medicine as well as to support Indigenous students through the four year program. Some key activites of the grant will include school visits, community consultation, mentors, pathway workshops, student bursaries, cultural support and marketing.
