Closing the gap between the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians is a national priority.

At James Cook University (JCU), we acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of the lands and waters where we operate our business. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past, present and future.

We honour Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to the University and society.

In collaboration with both ACRRM and RACGP, JCU General Practice and Rural Medicine is delivering a GP training program committed to developing a general practice workforce that works effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples towards improving their health outcomes.

Two-thirds of Queensland’s approximately 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live within JCU General Practice and Rural Medicine region, which means there are a variety of opportunities for registrars to develop an extended scope of practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

Registrars training in northern and regional Queensland have the opportunity to undertake training in a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service settings. Find out more about the training opportunities.

What is reconciliation?

Reconciliation is an honest and critical understanding of Australia's shared history, and how it has informed the lives of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians today.

JCU’s Reconciliation Action Plan

Our vision is to build strong relationships, increase respect and improve opportunities for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is important as within our region, a significant proportion of the population identifies as being of Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin.

Find out more on JCU's commitment to Reconciliation

Find out more

SIME Project with QAIHC

Culturally Appropriate Healthcare

Partnerships and Engagement

Key dates

The following is a list of significant dates in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities:

26 January - Survival Day
13 February - Anniversary of Apology to Australia’s Indigenous People
18 March - National Close the Gap Day
21 March - Harmony Day. Coincides with United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
26 May - National Sorry Day
27 May - Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum
27 May – 3rd June - National Reconciliation Week
29 May - Anniversary of the launch of the Torres Strait Islander flag
3 June - Mabo Day
1 July - Coming of the Light
7 - 14 July - NAIDOC Week (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee)
12 July - Anniversary of the launch of the Australian Aboriginal flag
4 August - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
9 August - International Day of the Worlds Indigenous People

Dr Jacinta Power is a Juru woman from the Birri Gubba nation in North Queensland. She is also a JCU General Practice and Rural Medicine and JCU School of Medicine Alumni. She has extensive knowledge in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health from her years of working in community-controlled health services and lifelong lived experiences. Jacinta’s role as an Indigenous Medical Educator is to support GP Registrars’ understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural commitments and responsibilities and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GP Registrars by promoting a culturally-safe learning environment.”

Contact the JCU General Practice and Rural Medicine: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health team

The team are here to help you with all enquiries related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health training.

Email: gprm.ATSIH@jcu.edu.au

Phone: 07 47 81 5926

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health