Growing the Indigenous Medical Workforce
Equitable Health Outcomes
Representation of Indigenous people in the medical workforce – a priority for achieving equitable health outcomes – is a continuing challenge, with Indigenous doctors remaining significantly under-represented in the medical workforces of both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
As can be seen via our Data Dashboard, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are now entering medical school above the level of population parity in Australia, however the data suggests that more support for progression through to graduation is needed. Good progress has been made in Aotearoa New Zealand, with a higher proportion of commencing Māori medical students and graduation closer to population parity levels. However, taking into account the currently very low proportion of Indigenous doctors, and the differences in health status and mortality for Indigenous peoples, the work of medical schools in setting targets for recruitment, retention and graduation above population parity levels, is vital.
The Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) Network have developed a range of resources to support this growth:
- Indigenous Pathways into Medicine – an information tool help future students determine which university will be the best for them as they study to become a doctor
- A range of videos – to provide a better understanding of the many paths to gaining entry to a medical program
Related Pages
Indigenous health & culturally safe care
Some of the ways in which medical schools are working to increase the number of Indigenous medical graduates, and ensure capable and culturally safe new doctors
Supporting Indigenous health academics
Sharing information on a range of approaches that have been effective in building and supporting a stronger Indigenous academic workforce within the health sciences.
LIME Network
The Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) Network is dedicated to supporting the quality and effectiveness of Indigenous health in medical education, through a collaborative bi-national presence.
