Program Overview

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Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing

This major provides students with a solid grounding in the many factors that influence the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal peoples, families, and communities in Australia, and an understanding of particular health problems and their impacts within Aboriginal communities, as well as practical experience in Aboriginal health settings.

About the Course

You will acquire an understanding of health issues and their impacts along with strategies, policies, and practices that have been implemented to improve health and wellbeing with a particular focus on Aboriginal community-led initiatives. The major also features practical experience in Aboriginal health settings.

Students who take this major as their primary major will also gain a strong fundamental knowledge of human biology. This knowledge will assist students in evaluating the biological evidence about disease mechanisms.

The major is offered in the Bachelor of Science program given its strong health focus. The Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing major, offered from within the Medical School, emphasises an evidence-based approach to decision making, policy development, and practice. This emphasis, in combination with a strong grounding in Aboriginal knowledge and understandings, provides a unique opportunity for students undertaking the major to develop an understanding of equity and translation of evidence into policy and practice that reflects the way forward in Closing the Gap in Aboriginal health.

Quick Details

• Status: Available
• Locations: Perth (Crawley campus)
• Attendance: Full-time, Part-time
• Delivery: On-campus
• Starting dates: Semester 1, Semester 2
• Weekly contact time: 12-18 hours plus your own study time
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Course Code: MJD-ABHWB
• Full time/part time duration: 3 years (BBiomedSc), 4 years (BBiomedSc[Hons])
• Honours Available: Yes
• Degrees course is available in: Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours), Bachelor of Biomedical Science

Careers and Further Study

This course opens up a world of future study pathways and career opportunities.

Career Pathways

Graduates will be well prepared for career opportunities in Aboriginal health research, policy, management, and practice in Aboriginal and government contexts.

Further Study

On completion of the Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing major, students may undertake honours or master's studies in a range of areas including Aboriginal health and population health. Students may also proceed into one of the postgraduate professional health courses.

Fees and Scholarships

Domestic Student Fees

For Commonwealth-supported places, student contribution amounts are charged by unit, based on area of study. For a fee estimate, go to the Fee Calculator and select “I want to price my units”. Fees are subject to annual indexation. Refer to the Handbook to identify the units required.

International Student Fees

Annual course fee: $49,400.00 (2025)

Onshore international students are charged an annual course fee, charged per credit point at a rate dependent on the course in which the student is enrolled. Annual course fees are calculated based on an annual study load. Check the handbook to confirm the annual study load for your course.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

Admission Requirements

The University of Western Australia welcomes applications from international and domestic school-leavers.

Minimum Entry Requirements

Below you’ll find a list of admission equivalencies for this course's Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).

• All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE): 11.5
• Canadian High School (except Quebec): 70
• French Baccalaureate: 12
• Gao Kao (PR China NCEE)/750: 525
• GCE A-Levels: 9
• German Abitur: 3.3
• Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education: 15
• Indian Senior School Certificate (CISCE): 60
• Indonesian Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) - Pass of 65: 79
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB): 26
• Malaysian STPM: 11
• Monash University Foundation Year: 270
• NCUK Foundation Program: 9
• Norwegian Vitnemål: 3.8
• Singapore - Cambridge A Levels: 8
• South African National Senior Certificate: 4.6
• South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT): 330
• Sweden Slutbetyg: 15
• Trinity College Foundation: 300
• Unified Examination Certificate (UEC): 12
• University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program: 66
• US College Board Advanced Placements: 8
• US College Board SAT: 1170
• Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP): 60
• Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards: 80

Maths Prerequisite

Prerequisite subjects: Mathematics Applications ATAR or a Mathematics unit may be required as part of your degree.

English Competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.

Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

How to Apply

The application process to this course is different for the assured and graduate entry pathways, and for international and domestic applicants.

Domestic Pathways

• Domestic Assured Pathway/School Leaver Entry: Applications are lodged via TISC.
• Domestic Graduate Entry: Applications are lodged via GEMSAS, which open and close in accordance with the GEMSAS timeline.

International Pathways

• International Assured Pathway/School Leaver Entry: Applications are lodged via UWA's online application system or via an authorised international education agent.
• International Graduate Entry: Applications are lodged via UWA's online application system or via an authorised international education agent.

Course Structure

Our undergraduate degrees offer you a range of options, so you can combine subjects to match your career goals with your personal interests.

Level 1

• Core: Take all units (24 points)
  • ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human (6)
  • ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human (6)
  • INDG1150 Aboriginal Encounters: Strangers in our Backyard (6)
  • INDG1160 Boodjar Moort Katitjin: Introduction to Indigenous Heritage and Knowledge (6)
• Bridging: Take units if applicable
  • MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals (6)

Level 2

• Core: Take all units (24 points)
  • AHEA2201 Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing (6)
  • INDG2300 Indigenous Knowledge: Mind, Body and Spirit (6)
  • PUBH2203 Foundations of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (6)
  • PUBH2216 Communication and Project Planning in Health (6)

Level 3

• Core: Take all units (24 points)
  • AHEA3200 Aboriginal Health Community Organisation Placement (6)
  • AHEA3300 Aboriginal Health Research Project (6)
  • AHEA3301 Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing (6)
  • INDG3300 Indigenous Research (6)

Your Degree Options

This major is offered as a degree-specific, or first, major for these degrees. It is also offered as a second major in our other bachelor's degrees.

• Bachelor of Philosophy
• Bachelor of Biomedical Science

Clubs and Societies

Health Students' Society

The Health Students' Society (HSS) is a student-run, not-for-profit organisation for undergraduates completing health-related majors at UWA. HSS provides social and education opportunities and encourages students to make the most of their time on campus and of university life. HSS offers a support network for members during their degrees and aims to enhance the university experience and raise the profile of graduates to prospective employees.