Indigenous Health Training (IHT) First Wave Scholarship Program

The GP Stakeholder Group (comprising of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Australian Medical Association WA, Rural Health West, WA Country Health Service, WA General Practice Education and Training, WA General Practice Network) in conjunction with the General Practice Registrars Association (GPRA) joined together to fund and support an extension to the GPSN Schwartz First Wave Scholarship.

The Indigenous Health Training (IHT) First Wave Scholarship Program was designed for third and fourth year medical students who have had limited exposure to Indigenous health and/or Aboriginal medical services in a rural setting, providing them with the opportunity to experience medicine in a totally different setting.

The Scholarship provided a unique opportunity for three scholarship recipients, Gabby Atlas, Catherine Smyth, and Isabel Taco to explore general practice and gain exposure to Indigenous health training in a supported Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) setting.

The IHT First Wave Scholarship Program provided:

• An Aboriginal Health Orientation Workshop coordinated and presented by WAGPET registrars whom have worked or are currently working in an AMS to support the student’s placement
• A clinical placement at an AMS (1 week), including transportation and accommodation
• A dedicated Supervisor and Cultural Mentor
• Placement Learning Plans developed with assistance a GP Registrar Supervisor
• A Reflection Log of the students experience to be presented at their post placement debrief seminar

Read more about their experiences:

• Isabel Taco - Kimberly Aboriginal Medical Service Council, Balgo
• Gabby Atlas - Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service, Broome
• Catherine Smyth - Mawarnkarra Aboriginal Health Service, Roebourne