Galuwa is a Gadigal word, so it's a word from the country in which UTS occupies and it means
to climb. So it's really about young Indigenous people climbing, aspiring to a career in health.
Galuwa Health is a university experience for Indigenous high school students that allows
them to imagine themselves working in a particular health related career.
The Faculty of Health is aware that the difference in health outcomes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous
Australians is unacceptable. As a faculty we are committed to trying to make a difference.
So Galuwa Health is one way of introducing to students the potential they may have to
come to university and to study in the areas of health.
For the first time in 2016 we'll be offering a Bachelor of Primary Health Care,
which is an away-from base federally funded program for Indigenous students only.
The other thing that's important for Indigenous students in - and something that UTS does particularly well - is provide a very supportive
environment for Indigenous students. That's principally done though Jumbunna Indigenous
House of Learning. Jumbunna provides a place of access for Indigenous students, so we facilitate
a number of pathways for Indigenous students into the university.
I think these programs are really important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
students and adults alike because it helps us not only get out and be able to see what
it is you'd be going into in uni or TAFE life, but it also helps you get into the community.
It brings us together and gives us a sense of belonging. You know - you feel supported,
and I know a lot of kids in remote areas might not feel this way.
A lot of them think, oh, we're not good enough to do things like that. People like us get
put down a lot. I reckon them being offered things like this will boost their self-esteem
and make them think, okay, I'm good enough for this, and we're just as good as anyone
else in the world. The key things I learned this week while I
was here is to be more confident in myself and my studies, because I wasn't really sure
at first. I was like, oh, it might not be what I want to do. I might not be smart enough
to get into it. I feel like I can do it now. I learned that there are many pathways in,
especially, health. At first, I wasn't the most interested in health. I was leaning towards
other fields. Then, as soon as I went into this program, it was like there are so many
opportunities and things I could do and things that I'm interested in. It was great.
The best week I've ever had. If I could do this again I would definitely take the opportunity
to. It's made me feel a lot more confident, not just because I now know what I'm coming
into, but also I know that people here are going to be here to support me and to help
me through any problem that I may have. Funding for Galuwa Health is critical. Not
only does Galuwa Health provide aspirations for our young people, it also provides an
opportunity for them to learn more about career opportunities. This is why it's so important
to our industry partners, to see that this program actually works and that it does build
aspirations and it's a real career outcome for them.
I left school when I was 15. I started off life as a farmhand. Having the opportunity
to go to university and have an education has meant that I've had experiences in life
that I didn't even imagine existed. I'd had the opportunity to travel internationally,
to meet other Indigenous people. At the same time it's given me financial security.
As a result of that my children grew up in an environment where they just presumed that
was quite normal. So as a result, all three of my children have gone to university. It's
really about putting a person in a position where they can have a lifetime of meaningful
work and contribute to society. So when you support an Indigenous person to be successful,
you're really supporting a person who is, essentially, giving their life to make a contribution
to others. I think that's a really important point to remember.