Djirruwang Program: Bachelor of Health Sciences (Mental Health)

Djirruwang Program: Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health)

OVERVIEW

The Djirruwang Program was developed in collaboration with Aboriginal community based organisations, the mental health industry and CSU to meet the needs of the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities. It evolved from a pilot program in 1994 at Southern Area Health Service, NSW.

The Djirruwang Program has undergone a number of changes since it first began back in 1993. It started as a pilot Aboriginal Mental Health Education Program and this operated between 1993 and 1995. Five Aboriginal people were employed as mental health trainees in mainstream mental health services in Queanbeyan NSW. Students were to receive a 'Certificate of Completion' at the end of the program. Steering committee members and particularly the five students expressed the need to have the program recognised as a suitable tertiary level qualification. The Academic Senate at Charles Sturt University accredited the course as a Diploma of Health Science (Mental Health) in 1995 and four of the original five students graduated with this award.

With the accredited Diploma of Health Science (Mental Health) and support from the NSW Centre for Mental Health for the education program to continue for a further two years the program was moved to Goulburn NSW in 1996. Fifteen students who were currently employed across NSW enrolled and the program operated as a block release (residential) mode of study. The students were to attend residential schools at Goulburn throughout the year and then return to their workplace for supervision.

With the growing interest in the area of Aboriginal Mental Health the program underwent a further upgrade to be offered an undergraduate Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) degree. This upgrade was rolled out in 2000. The program was outgrowing itself and was moved to Wagga Wagga NSW in October 2000.

Since the move to Wagga Wagga and support from the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health the program was successfully transferred to its new home at Charles Sturt University in Wagga in the Faculty of Health Studies.

In keeping with the previous arrangements at Goulburn the Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) continued to build momentum as a valued undergraduate course run by Charles Sturt University . It continued to enjoy the same accredited standing that was available at Goulburn and continued to recognise the importance of having Aboriginal lecturers as an integral part of the building of success. A full time Aboriginal lecturer was appointed on a permanent basis in July 2002 at Charles Sturt University (Jeeawody and Havelka 2002).

The Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) is conducted through the School of Nursing and Midwifery and has produced graduates who have been successfully employed at various levels within mainstream mental health, community mental health services, Aboriginal organisations and Aboriginal community controlled health services. It was upgraded to a degree course in 2000 to provide greater educational pathways and career opportunities for existing and future graduates.

News and Events

CSU News article - Mental Health Workers for Indigenous Australians - Oct 2007

A burning desire to build a sustainable Indigenous workforce of mental health specialists has led to top honours being bestowed on Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Wayne Rigby during Mental Health Week. Mr Rigby is the Director of the innovative Djirruwang Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Program at CSU, a tertiary-level course specifically designed for Indigenous mental health practitioners to meet the needs of their own communities across Australia. At a ceremony in Sydney on Wednesday, 10th October, Mr Rigby received a 2007 Mental Health Matters Award for his role as Director of the Djirruwang Program ... more

Launch of the NSW Aboriginal Mental Health and Well Being Policy 2006 - 2010

The NSW Aboriginal Mental Health and Well Being Policy 2006 - 2010 was launched by the Hon. Paul Lynch MP, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health), Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister for Local Government. The new Policy represents a significant milestone in the NSW Government's ongoing commitment to improve the mental health and well being of Aboriginal people in NSW. The policy was launched at CSU Wagga Wagga campus on Thursday 5th July 2007. Read the policy ...

Awards

The Djirruwang Program has received the following awards:

2007

2006 - University Medallist - Cathy Powell, CSU graduate Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health)

2005 - Winner – NSW Health Aboriginal Health Awards 2005 Innovative Aboriginal and Career Development Programs in Partnership with Greater Western Area Health Service

2005 - Silver Award - 2005 NSW Premier’s Public sector Awards Category - Workforce Development in Partnership with Greater Western Area Health Service

2003 - Pfizer Non-Psychiatrist Project Presentation Award. Tom Brideson Director of the Program “The risks of viewing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Professionals as undervalued ‘seasonal workers’”. Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry Conference. Auckland, New Zealand

1997 - Silver Award at The Mental Health Services Conference (TheMHS) for innovation in “Education and Training”