title: Integrated support for Aboriginal tertiary students in health-related courses: the Pika Wiya Learning Centre.
abstract: The barriers to Indigenous people entering tertiary education, succeeding, and gaining employment in the health professions are broad and systemic. While efforts have been made to address these barriers, the number of Indigenous health professionals remains extremely low across Australia. The Pika Wiya Learning Centre in South Australia provides a range of practical, social, cultural, and emotional supports for tertiary students to increase the number of Indigenous health professionals, especially registered nurses, in the region. This paper reports on the Centre's strengths that may represent best practice in student support, and the obstacles to further development.
authors.affiliation: Spencer Gulf Rural Health School, University of South Australia and The University of Adelaide, Whyalla Norrie, SA.
authors.forename: Maree
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aylward
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heyne
authors.forename: Charmaine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Misan
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: May
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walker-Jeffreys
mesh_terms: D017144:Focus Groups; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education*; D006280:Health Workforce; D006801:Humans; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D012576:Schools, Health Occupations / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013021:South Australia