Footprints forwards blocked by a failure discourse: issues in providing advice about medicine and other health science careers to Indigenous secondary school students

A dominant discourse constructs Indigenous secondary school students as likely to leave school early and unlikely to take up a health career. We believe that this failure discourse shapes the school and tertiary transposition experience for the majority of Indigenous students, regardless of their capabilities and aspirations. Career development practitioners have the potential to change the experiences of Indigenous school students and play a part in closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous health outcomes. However, only 18 per cent or 26 out of 144 Victorian secondary school career advisers or guidance counsellors who responded to our survey demonstrated the knowledge, skills and understanding to effectively advise and support an Indigenous student who expressed an interest in a health career.

Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner.

A dominant discourse constructs Indigenous secondary school students as likely to leave school early and unlikely to take up a health career. We believe that this failure discourse shapes the school and tertiary transposition experience for the majority of Indigenous students, regardless of their capabilities and aspirations. Career development practitioners have the potential to change the experiences of Indigenous school students and play a part in closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous health outcomes. However, only 18 per cent or 26 out of 144 Victorian secondary ...  [+] Show more