indigenous medical education: achieving quality and quantity dr craig richards ms leanne holt...

Indigenous Medical Education:

Achieving Quality and Quantity

Dr Craig Richards

Ms Leanne Holt

A/Prof. John Stuart

Apr 19, 2023

A presentation to LIME Conference II | www.newcastle.edu.au

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17 Medical Schools are, or will soon be, seeking to recruit Indigenous medical

students under alternative entry pathways.

Apr 19, 2023


31. Small Student NumbersChallenges:• Students at universities with few Indigenous students

are isolated from peer support

• Universities are unable to evaluate changes in progression rates within a meaningful timeframe

Limits resources available to a university to comprehensively support their students

Apr 19, 2023


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2. Limited Staffing

Challenges:• Students receive either

• a thin veneer of generalist services, or • some needs are comprehensively met whilst others are

ignored

• Universities are vulnerable to loss of corporate knowledge and strategic direction with staff turnover

• Staff career paths are unclear

Apr 19, 2023


53. Shortage of Indigenous doctors and senior Indigenous academics

Challenges:• Difficulty recruiting suitable staff

• Not all universities benefit from the experience and vision of a senior academic

• Universities are limited in their capacity to mentor both students and staff

Can we overcome these limitations by establishing a

co-ordinated national program of Indigenous medical education?

Apr 19, 2023


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Benefits of a national approach

• Universities can work together to provide a comprehensive system of cross-institutional support accessible by all students

• Combined student numbers allows meaningful evaluation to occur

• The skills of senior academics are efficiently utilised, providing strategic direction at a national level

Apr 19, 2023


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Benefits of a national approach

• Indigenous medical students support each other as a national cohort

• Staff benefit from mentoring and career development opportunities within a national framework

• Fosters co-operation rather than competition between universities

• Universities negotiate with government as a single

cohesive lobby

Apr 19, 2023


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How could a new national system work?

Apr 19, 2023


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A geographical cluster model

Apr 19, 2023


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Role: Central Support Unit

• Develop and maintain a web portal for students and prospective students to access information, resources and each other online– Detailed information regarding cross-institutional

support programs and how to access them– Discussion board for students to share notes,

access peer support and mentors– Library of existing notes and online tutorials– Comprehensive scholarships database

Apr 19, 2023


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Role: Central Support Unit

• Co-ordinate a national program of on-call academic assistance and live interactive tutorials

• Facilitate a rigorous national system of ongoing evaluation of existing programs

• Co-ordinate an evidence based national selection process

• Develop national network of individuals and organisations willing to assist students (as mentors, employers, benefactors)

Apr 19, 2023


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Role: Clusters

• Cluster as a whole provides a comprehensive support system to its students

• Each university contributes some specialised support services to this system

• Universities collaborate to deliver generic recruitment activities within cluster’s catchment area

• To facilitate ongoing relationships, a common O-week camp and cross-institutional activities for all cluster students and staff

Apr 19, 2023


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Building Clusters

Key tasks-• Identify needs common to all Indigenous medical

education programs within cluster

• Utilise existing institutional strengths

• Remove duplication

• Develop specialisation

Conclusion

• 17 universities will soon be offering Indigenous alternative entry pathways, improving access to medical training

• Increasing the number of universities independently operating Indigenous medical education programs replicates existing problems

• A co-ordinated national system has the potential to resolve these problems, improving the quality of all Indigenous medical education programs across Australia

Apr 19, 2023


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PS. Pilot cluster forming now...

Please join us!

Apr 19, 2023


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indigenous medical education: achieving quality and quantity dr craig richards ms leanne holt...

Documents

lime conference

indigenous students

universities universities

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prospective students

national approach universities

peer support universities

national cohort staff