The focus of this Fellowship was to investigate models of successful pathways for Indigenous students into university-qualifying allied health professions. The study investigated the national profile of Indigenous students enrolled in select higher education and vocational education allied healthcare study, as well as the institutional factors linked with success in access and retention. A subset of 10 allied health professions was chosen for inclusion in the Fellowship: psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, optometry, audiology, dietetics, exercise physiology, speech path
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The focus of this Fellowship was to investigate models of successful pathways for Indigenous students into university-qualifying allied health professions. The study investigated the national profile of Indigenous students enrolled in select higher education and vocational education allied healthcare study, as well as the institutional factors linked with success in access and retention. A subset of 10 allied health professions was chosen for inclusion in the Fellowship: psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, optometry, audiology, dietetics, exercise physiology, speech pathology, and social work. [Vocational education and training] VET program data on health and human welfare studies and services fields of education were also examined. The Fellowship adopted a mixed methods approach to data collection. Quantitative data on the socio-demographic profile of Indigenous students was sourced from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) and the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). This data was complemented by qualitative semi-structured interviews and online survey responses provided by Indigenous students and graduates, as well as stakeholders in the higher education and vocational education sectors.
Although the current Fellowship primarily focused on the allied healthcare field, alignments were found with past recommendations made more broadly within the higher education sector, including but not limited to, the Behrendt and NATSIHEC Reviews [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 109.1216 and TD/TNC 147.671 respectively]. Future growth in Indigenous enrolment share within higher education allied healthcare programs could thus be achieved by continuing to build upon these recommendations, specifically: improving Indigenous governance and leadership within professional bodies, localised target setting by profession and/or institution, strategic expansion of course offerings into regional areas; improved partnerships between the VET sector and higher education providers; credit transfer arrangements for VET qualifications which align with allied health curricula; an education campaign within the VET sector on career transition opportunities; dual enrolments; support for VET articulation from higher education providers; and continued Indigenous Student Success Program (ISSP) funding to support the Indigenous Student Support Centres.
Edited excerpts from publication.
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