MAP1000 - Indigenous healing ways - 2019

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is the oldest continuing culture in the world some 60,000 years old sustained by a deep understanding of wellbeing.

An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander worldview of wellbeing is not just individual absence of physical illness but the holistic social, cultural and emotional wellbeing of the community.

In this Unit students participate in learning practices and activities directly concerned with Indigenous medicines, healing practices and respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing ways. Students are introduced to key concepts online and are given opportunity to engage in example medicine, healing and wellbeing practices in a facilitated two-day workshop. At completion of this unit students will have gained deeper understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing and their role within this for advocacy.

The unit approaches respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing ways with these specific activities:

1. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, Respected People and Healers discussing wellbeing ways and the holistic strengths and benefits of these.
2. Hands on activities and practice.
3. Team work and oral presentations.

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Describe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healing ways pre-colonisation to the present.
2. Describe the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and languages, and illustrate examples.
3. Articulate the concept of cultural humility as a process of lifelong learning.
4. Demonstrate cultural humility and explain behaviours and values required to engage in lifelong learning.
5. Examine key elements attributed to cultural beliefs and practices within the local context (e.g. kinship, reciprocity).
6. Examine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander key concepts of health and wellbeing and the influence of culture, family and connection to country in health practice.

• Loci map and presentation (40%) (hurdle)
• Graphic schema and group presentation (60%) (hurdle)
• Reflective journal (20%) (hurdle)

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week/ 144 hours per semester comprising: A study schedule for flexible learning including a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study.

This includes a two-day face to face workshop at the Clayton campus and online content.

See also Unit timetable information

Indigenous health