The model is unique — the year-long certificate is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have equivalent work experience in their community, regardless of whether they have completed tertiary education.
Now into its third year, the University of Melbourne Specialist Certificate in Empowering Health in Aboriginal Communities is beginning to hit its stride.
This year, six students are enrolled and forming individual projects that directly benefit their respective communities.
The projects are wide-ranging.
Two are centered on elders — promoting digital literacy and addressing the disconnect felt during the COVID-19 pandemic through cultural activities.
Another student is organising a room specifically for indigenous people receiving end-of-life care at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne.
“Our goal is not to get too big, our goal is to provide quality education with a lot of support for students,” University of Melbourne Department of Rural Health director Lisa Bourke said.
“We've had a very high completion rate — in the first year we had six students, all six finished the first semester, one student deferred and five students finished the second semester.
“The design of the project is so we're supporting people with their education, but also an Aboriginal community or Aboriginal organisation.”
Ms Bourke said it wasn't uncommon for students to complete the specialist certificate and go on to change careers.
“It's created opportunity and a drive in themselves to pursue particular avenues,” she said.
“There's a whole lot of Aboriginal people who work in health but for a range of reasons don't have a university qualification, and this provides them with the opportunity to do that.
“In one year, they get a postgrad qualification and if they want to do more, it opens the door to lots of different courses in public health.”
University of Melbourne lecturer Gwenda Freeman said the design of the course filled "a gap" in the education system.
“If you haven't done university study before, we can offer that extra support for people just getting the hang of it all,” she said.
“Our focus is twofold — covering that content but also covering academic skills.”
Past projects have seen wide-ranging impacts — from a dental program engaging childcare workers that turned into a children's book, to the construction of a possum skin cloak for GV Health patients.
University of Melbourne Aboriginal rural health lecturer Raylene Nixon began teaching the course this year.
“I came through the Masters of Health and Social Sciences with the University of Melbourne; I was in the first cohort of Aboriginal students that went through,” she said.
Ms Nixon went on to do a PhD for the Kaiela Institute before heading the specialist certificate in March.
“I love it (teaching) so much, I don't know if it's because I've got the best cohort of students anyone has ever had,” she said with a laugh.
“But I'm really passionate and I can see the contribution it's making to the community.”
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