Bond University is closing the health care gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by offering an Indigenous pathway into its medical program.
The Gold Coast campus will offer an Indigenous Medical Scholarship, covering all tuition fees through the full four year eight month medical program for one successful applicant in 2016.
Australia-wide, there are currently only around 200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors and just over 300 studying medicine.
Image: Dr Shannon Springer (supplied by Bond University)
Dr Shannon Springer, Discipline Lead for Indigenous Health at Bond University says increasing the numbers will improve access to health care for Indigenous people because, as patients, they do feel more comfortable seeing medical practitioners who probably have a similar background and therefore understand the history and context surrounding Aboriginal health issues.