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Transformative Learning: A Precursor to Preparing Health Science Students to Work in Indigenous Health Settings?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 March 2018

Jonathan Bullen  and
Lynne Roberts
Jonathan Bullen*
Affiliation:
Curtin Learning and Teaching, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
Lynne Roberts
Affiliation:
School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
*
address for correspondence: Jonathan Bullen, Curtin Learning and Teaching, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia. Email: jonathan.bullen@curtin.edu.au
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Abstract

Australian undergraduate programmes are implementing curriculum aimed at better preparing graduates to work in Indigenous health settings, but the efficacy of these programmes is largely unknown. To begin to address this, we obtained baseline data upon entry to tertiary education (Time 1) and follow-up data upon completion of an Indigenous studies health unit (Time 2) on student attitudes, preparedness to work in Indigenous health contexts and transformative experiences within the unit. The research involved 336 health science first-year students (273 females, 63 males) who completed anonymous in-class paper questionnaires at both time points. Paired sample t-tests indicated significant change in student attitudes towards Indigenous Australians, perceptions of Indigenous health as a social priority, perceptions of the adequacy of health services for Indigenous Australians and preparedness to work in Indigenous health settings. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that after controlling for Time 1 measures, the number of precursor steps to transformative learning experienced by students accounted for significant variance in measures of attitudes and preparedness to work in Indigenous health contexts at Time 2. The knowledge gained further informs our understanding of both the transformative impact of such curriculum, and the nature of this transformation in the Indigenous studies health context.

Keywords

Indigenous studiesattitudespreparednesstransformative learningIndigenous health settings
Type
Research Article
Information
The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education , Volume 48 , Issue 2 , December 2019 , pp. 129 - 140
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2018 

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