REM: A Collaborative Framework for Building Indigenous Cultural Competence.

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Indigenous Health
• Cultural Competence Training

Background:

• Significant health disparities exist between Australian Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations.
• A comprehensive response from health professionals is mandated to address these disparities.
• Enhancing cultural competence among future health professionals is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a faculty of health's approach to enhancing cultural competence in students.
• To describe the collaborative development of an Indigenous graduate attribute across a curriculum.
• To establish a framework for embedding Indigenous cultural understanding in health education.

Main Methods:

• Collaborative development process involving Indigenous and non-Indigenous university staff.
• Collective creation of a model for embedding a faculty-wide Indigenous graduate attribute.
• Formation of principles: Respect, Engagement and sharing, Moving forward (REM).

Main Results:

• A collaborative framework (REM) has been established for embedding Indigenous cultural competence.
• The process involved respectful collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff.
• The model facilitates the integration of Indigenous cultural understanding into the curriculum.

Conclusions:

• The developed model provides a framework and practical approach for enhancing cultural competence.
• Embedding Indigenous graduate attributes fosters crucial cultural understanding in students and staff.
• This initiative contributes to a more culturally responsive health workforce.