Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health

JCU provides registrars with a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health educational activities including:

College Online Cultural Awareness Module

RACGP or ACRRM online Cultural Awareness modules must be satisfactorily completed within the first two months of commencing the term.

Cultural Awareness Training Workshops

Cultural Awareness Training Workshops are delivered locally within the JCU regions by our Cultural Educator.

JCU Clinical Case Modules

Registrars have access to a number of online learning resources in MyJCUGP. These resources include interactive and strengths-based clinical case modules in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Registrars must complete three of the clinical case modules. 

Cultural Mentoring in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural mentors support registrars during their training in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services. They provide advice on a day to day basis on cultural and other matters in accordance with individual needs. They also work with cultural educators to formulate and deliver local cultural awareness and capability training.

‘Half-Day Release’ Education Sessions

Local medical educators conduct regular education sessions throughout the year. Many of these incorporate clinical applications to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health settings to extend registrar knowledge and understanding.

JCU offers registrars the opportunity to undertake training in a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service settings. Find out more about the training opportunities. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Training Forum

This is held annually for our key stakeholders to discuss JCU’s GP training program’s progress in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health over the last 12 months and plans for the future.  At this forum, the key stakeholders (including representatives from all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander training posts in the region, JCU staff and Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council) provide direction in strategic planning activities and program development to assist JCU to further improve the health outcomes for those in remote and rural Queensland.

QAIHC JCU Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Masterclass

Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait and Islander Health Council (QAIHC), in partnership with James Cook University (JCU), is delivering a medical education initiative to enhance the ability of JCU GP registrars to provide effective, culturally appropriate health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients in Queensland. The unique model of care required to be delivered to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health sector will be enhanced by attending this masterclass. This Masterclass in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health is about how to deliver patient-centred care in a comprehensive, patient-centred primary health care environment; how to recognise social determinants of health and illness and work in partnership to address them; and how to deliver quality care for patients with acute and chronic disease.

Communities of Practice – Cultural Mentors Meetings

These communities of practice workshops are held twice a year with the JCU cultural mentors across Queensland. This is an opportunity to collaborate, network and share stories of good practice and innovation in how the cultural mentors are engaging with the GP registrars.  The cultural mentor guide and cultural mentor logbook evolved from these communities of practice workshops.

Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council

The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) is a leadership and policy organisation. Established in 1990 they are the peak organisation representing all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Services (CCHS) in Queensland at both a state and national level. QAIHC are a key partner in the delivery of JCU’s GP training program.  

National Cultural Educator and Cultural Mentor Network

JCU actively support participation of cultural educators and mentors in this national network. JCU are also represented on the governance committee.

Strategic Partnership Group

JCU participate in a collaboration with Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) and General Practice Training Queensland (GPTQ) to provide strategic direction and coordination at a policy level of training and workforce across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Queensland.

JCU GP Training Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee

This committee is comprised of key individuals with diverse experience in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health training space. The committee meets regularly to provide direction and oversight of the various Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander activities in the GP training program.

The following is a list of significant dates in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities: 

• 26 January - Survival Day
• 13 February - Anniversary of Apology to Australia’s Indigenous People
• 18 March - National Close the Gap Day
• 21 March - Harmony Day. Coincides with United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
• 26 May - National Sorry Day
• 27 May - Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum
• 27 May – 3rd June - National Reconciliation Week
• 29 May - Anniversary of the launch of the Torres Strait Islander flag
• 3 June - Mabo Day
• 1 July - Coming of the Light
• 3 - 10 July - NAIDOC Week (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee)
• 12 July - Anniversary of the launch of the Australian Aboriginal flag
• 4 August - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
• 9 August - International Day of the Worlds Indigenous People

Contact your local office

Contact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health team 

The team are here to help you with all enquiries related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health training.

Email: jcugp.atsih@jcu.edu.au

Phone: 07 47 81 5926