Looking for job with an Aboriginal hospital in AUS - Can anyone help with info??

ceridwyn · Apr 17, 2013

We do not have separate hospitals for our Indigenious people, they do however have seperate community health coops, but nursing is usually from organisations such as RHAC for short term contracts.

The remote in Australia is a bit different to remote in the US and many RN,s are it for the community, much experience is required and much culture education is required of Aboriginal customs and requirements.

Fiona59 · Apr 17, 2013

Ceridwyn:

Here in Canada (and in the US) we have reserves that many of our First Nations peoples live on. Up north, the Department of Indian Affairs (a branch of Federal government) finances this care.

Does Australia have a similar set up?

ceridwyn · Apr 18, 2013

Up in the Northern areas many indigenous people live in !communities. Though these communities have schools, police stations, medical centres - all staffed by non indigenous people. Aboriginal health workers are often available and Thses are Indigenious people educated in primary health care. Many police officers, rangers are indigenous.

Like most Australians, most people living in These communities are on centrelink benefits- government payments. Though some communities have tourist business going for income - painting art- motels- tours.

I am no expert on life up north, as I am a southerner. Just been there as a tourist so far.

There are many incentives and free education including books accom food for indigenous people to take up tertiary education to be nurses drs, etc and there are not uncommon. There is no blood qualification to be considered indigenous, you just need to be recognised by a community elder, so indigenous people, mainly down south often have no visual identifying factors are are often look more 'English, than me, but have been identified as indigenous due to an elder identifying they have a relative that has indigenous blood.

Fiona59 · Apr 18, 2013

Sounds very similar to Canada.

First Nations people have access to free post secondary education with some programmes reserving seats for them.

Unfortunately, it's down to the band council and politics and family dynamics are often the deciding factors.

To qualify you must have treaty status. And that's been a huge issue as to who is treaty and who isn't. It's all down to bloodlines and marriage.

kyliethernstudent · May 19, 2013

ceridwyn i feel that i need to make you aware that what you hear about indigenous incentive programs for education to become a dr or nurse is totally unfounded and total gossip. i do identify myself as indigenous and there is a little thing that happened called the stolen generation that occurred and is a concept to why there are many "english looking in appearence" indigenous people as you stated. i need to make you aware that i have completed my diploma of nursing and due to finish my RN's this year. i dont get any assitance for anything for studying and my people are from alice spring arrente people which is a main diadvantaged group. i am pretty insulted by your lack of knowledge and quite puzzled to why you commented on something you know very little about.

ceridwyn · May 19, 2013

I apologise if you have taken offence. I had my nursing education with 3 Indigenous students from the Kurnai people, with a capital, of east gippsland.

They informed us of having their HeCS. Books and accommodation totally paid for by the government to encourage Aboriginal people into the professional health system, this was 15 years ago and I have been told by nursing students in my area there are schemes today, mainly to work with their own people as they have the knowledge and understand the culture much much better than any non aboriginal do.

We applauded this idea and had a great time at uni learning of the Kurnai people who come from the same place as I, yet so different.

Indigenous people on other countries to be recognised have to prove they are 20% or 30%. Etc. Bloodline. As with Eskimo people in Alaska, Indigenous from Hawaii, Indian in America and Canada, just to name a few other indigenous people's.

I was just trying to describe differences as a person who finds a relative that was identified as Australian Aboriginal needs, not to prove a bloodline, but needs to be recognised by an elder and they do not always have dark skin and dark hair as in stereotyping. Just like someone who is a descendant from a person from stolen generation!

BTW my classmates had white skin and blonde hair. As this is a forum read by international readers I thought it would be an idea to let others know that the stereo type of the Australian Aboriginal is not correct.

I again apologise for giving the world wrong info I have only been told of the incentives by Indigenous people I have met here. Perhaps scholarships from the unis here or from Victorian government. Sorry you have not been given this support. I did qualify myself saying I knew very little of the people up north and I was a southerner.

Congratulations on your completion of your nursing degree and hope you have a very happy and successful career!

Shinez · Jun 4, 2013

I am also indigenous and have recently finished my Bachelor of Nursing in Sth Australia, and I also had to pay for my books, HECS and everything else. Maybe back 15 years there was the initiative to fund nursing for our people but here in south Australia that isn't the policy now.

Most aboriginal communities hire their own people over outsiders. Most of the time it is in the form of Aboriginal Health workers through health provision in aboriginal community controlled health services. There usually is an RN but primarily it is the health workers who have the main roles in these health services.

Primary health care would be an option to consider if you were interested in getting into aboriginal health, here in Australia, based on my two years of research and local knowledge on the subject. Tasmania have some opportunities for primary health care nurses last I looked.