Guest Speaker;   
    Assoc Prof Gregory Phillips

"The Australian Challenge in Health Education for Indigenous people"

Australian universities have been working for over 10 years to increase the number of Indigenous students in the health professions. Some progress has been made but there is much more to do.

There is a large deficit in Australians’ understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. First year medical courses for example need to start from zero in educating students about Indigenous peoples and their health.

This presentation will enunciate clearer definitions and models of Aboriginal health and cultural safety, and consider whose responsibility it is to teach and deliver better health courses and services.

Gregory Phillips is from the Waanyi and Jaru peoples and comes from Cloncurry and Mount Isa. He is a medical anthropologist, has a PhD in psychology and a research master’s degree in medical science.

Gregory has 20 years’ work experience in healing, alcohol and other drugs, youth empowerment and medical education. He developed an accredited Indigenous health curriculum for all medical schools in Australia and New Zealand, founded the Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education Network and established the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation in the wake of the federal apology.

Gregory is currently an Associate Professor and Research Fellow at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute.