Kruki Medical Academy
An opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary students to experience life as a first year medical student
2023 Kruki Medical Academy school dates: Monday, 28 August – Friday 1 September 2023
Kruki (pronounced Croc-i) is the Anaiwan word for medicine man.
UNE Kruki — Summer Camp for indigenous students
The Kruki Summer Camp was organised by the School of Rural Medicine for Indigenous school students in Years 9–12. The School acknowledges the importance of place in people's health and Indigenous knowledge in the role of health practice.
The Kruki Medical Academy is an initiative sponsored by the School of Rural Medicine and is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary school students in Years 9 through 12. The School of Rural Medicine acknowledges the importance of health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities. It recognises the difference in need and availability for these communities.
The Kruki Medical Academy has been created to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary school students the opportunity to experience life as a first-year medical student during a five day stay on our Armidale campus. Students who are selected to attend this camp will gain an insight into studying medicine in Armidale through the Joint Medical Program (JMP).
The JMP is delivered at the University of New England and the University of Newcastle and is supported by the Central Coast Local Health District and the Hunter New England Area Health Service.
Kruki Medical Academy offers various activities and workshops over its duration. These activities and workshops will help build confidence and, motivation, demystifying the student of medicine for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Our Vision
Throughout Kruki, our goals for participants and our people alike are to:
- Increase involvement and enrolment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students into the Joint Medical Program at the University of New England. This may include participation at the Experience days, high school visits to regional and remote areas, Miroma Bunbilla Medicine and Health pre-entry scheme and general orientation and introduction to life and study at the University of New England.
- Enable the study of Health and Medicine to make this study accessible to all socio-economic levels of society using straight talk, yarning and other familiarisation techniques.
- Further develop the reputation of the Faculty of Medicine and Health and the School of Rural Medicine at the University of New England as a friendly, supportive and culturally safe environment for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
The Kruki Summer School was funded through the Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program, Department of Education and Training.
The University of New England respects and acknowledges that its people, programs and facilities are built on land, and surrounded by a sense of belonging, both ancient and contemporary, of the world’s oldest living culture. In doing so, UNE values and respects Indigenous knowledge systems as a vital part of the knowledge capital of Australia.
University of New England CRICOS Provider Number 00003G.