Growing medical students on Wiradjuri country NAIDOC

Almost 1000 medical students have studied on Wiradjuri country at the School of Rural Health in Dubbo and Orange. During their time here, as well as learning about rural medicine and the benefits and challenges of rural healthcare, they are also introduced to the topic of Indigenous Health. This theme is continued throughout their studies and is complemented by being welcomed into our communities and immersed into our local region.

Each year, we are privileged to have local Aboriginal Elders and community members generously give their time to meet and get to know our students and share their knowledge and wisdom. For this we say thank you. From our annual Cultural Immersion Day and Day on Country in Dubbo, Indigenous Cultural Adventure in Orange, campfire yarn-ups and Elders morning tea, our students are given unique learning opportunities that can’t be found through textbooks. Engaging with community, sharing stories and hearing of the experiences and health issues directly from Aboriginal people, is a special part of the growth and development of our training doctors. It’s also a vital aspect in them learning how to provide culturally appropriate care to patients they meet along the way. Being involved in these activities means the student doctors are not meeting Aboriginal people for the first time at the hospital, so it’s also a key part in building meaningful relationships with community.

Engaging with our Aboriginal Elders gives students a much more well-rounded and enhanced cultural learning experience. Through meeting and yarning, they learn firsthand about Indigenous perspectives and the importance of recognising and understanding culture. In addition to this, Aboriginal history and the impacts of loss of culture and identity, and the importance of country are all topics shared with students. They learn about the stolen generations and intergenerational trauma and the ongoing effects of these, as well as learning about the significance of spirituality, diversity among communities, and kinship structures, in particular the importance of family.

We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to connect with community, learn about our local Aboriginal culture and contribute to improved health outcomes. Thank you for your continued commitment to our students. For making them feel welcome and sharing your knowledge and wisdom to contribute to their medical education.