Healthy Futures Report - LIME Network

FINDINGS●●●●●tutorial rooms specifically for Indigenoushealth and medical students;tutorial and other assistance in preparingfor assessments and exams;information about specific health andmedical scholarships and grants;assistance to attend health conferencesand educational meetings;information on cadetships, and assistancewith holiday employment; and● collegiate and social activities such asbarbeques, sporting activities andcommunity/university events.The location of these units appeared to beintegral to their success. For some, thelocation was within the medical school, whilefor others it was within the wider Indigenoussupport unit. Importantly, these units neededto be perceived by students to be convenientand easy to access.Indigenous health support unit is physicallylocated within the medical school.[Indigenous medical support unit] and[general Indigenous support Unit] are colocated… this is pivotal to the success ofthe recruitment, retention and support ofstudents.Co-location of support units also providedfor greater access to and sharing of resources.Co-location also provided importantsupport to the Indigenous staff.However, a number of concerns aboutexpectations that Indigenous support unitswill ‘do everything’ were raised by staff andstudents. In particular, many Indigenoussupport workers felt there was a tendency formedical schools to delegate ‘everythingIndigenous’ to the support unit, including allrecruitment, retention, support andpromotion activities. Workers felt this placedtoo much demand on the unit (which mayoften only have one part-time staff member)and meant they had less time to spend withthe students. This was also reflected incomments from students and graduatesYes, they might have a great [Indigenous]support unit.. but no one is ever there.Indigenous medical studentFifty-seven percent of the students ratedIndigenous health or medical support units astheir main criteria for choosing to attend theirparticular university.Indigenous student support workers25