The Master of Remote and Indigenous Health is a 54-unit program which is offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences through the Centre for Remote Health in Alice Springs.

The course articulates with the Graduate Certificate in Remote Health Practice and the Graduate Diploma in Remote Health Practice and the sequentially developed topics allow progression through the three awards.

The program was developed in collaboration with the Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia (now CRANA Plus) building on work with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), the services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied health (SARRAH) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM). It is offered on an external basis through Flinders Learning Online and residential intensives.

Students who hold the graduate certificate or the graduate diploma are granted credit for topics already taken.

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold the Graduate Diploma of Remote Health Practice of this University or equivalent, or an approved degree or qualification deemed by the Admissions Committee to be an appropriate basis for this course of study and

  • Have not less than two years experience as a practising health professional in a remote area and;
  • Be currently practising as a health professional in a remote area.

However, the Faculty may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Course aims

The Master of Remote and Indigenous Health is designed for health professionals experienced in working within the remote and Indigenous context to advance their knowledge of the discipline of Remote Health.

This remote and Indigenous public health program aims to further extend their current knowledge across three major content areas that underpin practice within the discipline of Remote and Indigenous Health locally, nationally and internationally. These content areas are:

  • The remote context – an inseparable work and living environment characterised by unique cultural, linguistic, social, economic, geographical, and climatic conditions
  • Public health – a population based framework for planning, developing, managing and evaluating initiatives and programs to promote health and prevent disease
  • Application to practice – the inter-professional and profession specific skills, knowledge and attributes required for competent, confident, accountable remote and Indigenous health practice within a primary health care framework.

Learning outcomes

At the completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:

  • practise autonomously within their own professional boundaries, contributing unique skills and knowledge to the multi-disciplinary team providing health care within isolated, remote and Indigenous contexts
  • extend their knowledge of the remote context, social determinants and public health through development of research capabilities and clinical expertise
  • apply knowledge and skills to work competently and confidently with the people and professionals of remote areas  in the prevention and management of ill-health within remote and Indigenous communities
  • practice as an expert in their field with leadership capacities that will be applied in specific areas of remote health service delivery
  • listen well, respond constructively and convey their knowledge, understanding, reasoning and decision making in both written and spoken form and in a culturally safe manner
  • advocate for sustainable, efficient, accessible and equitable health service delivery to improve health outcomes for remote, isolated, marginalised and Indigenous people worldwide
  • possess a high level of resourcefulness in regards to organising their activities, prioritising their tasks, managing their time productively, and utilising goods and services in a socially and environmentally responsible way
  • recognise that the world is dynamic and changing, and that isolated practice requires a commitment to continually updating skills and knowledge in response to the changing health technologies and health care needs of remote and Indigenous people locally, nationally and internationally
  • work cooperatively and productively across the diverse geographical, cultural, social and economic settings of Remote and Indigenous Health practice, showing respect to the ideas and perspectives of Indigenous persons and negotiating and resolving conflict or difficulties in a culturally safe and decolonising way.

Program of study

To qualify for the Master of Remote Health Practice, a student must complete 54 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

The research dissertation and elective topics must be chosen in consultation with the course coordinator and must be in an area relevant to the student''s present or future practice.

Core - Year 1 & 2 topics

31.5 units comprising:

REMH8001  Context of Remote & Indigenous Health (4.5 units)
REMH8002  Remote & Indigenous Primary Health Care (4.5 units)
REMH8013  Public Health Principles for Remote & Indigenous practice (4.5 units)
REMH8014  Ethics, Power and Practice (4.5 units)
REMH8015  Research and Evidence Based Decision Making (4.5 units)
REMH8022  Research and Evaluation for Remote & Indigenous Health (4.5 units)
REMH8017  Remote Health Services: Organisation, Resources and Workforce (4.5 units)

plus 4.5 units selected from:

REMH8023A Remote & Indigenous research dissertation (4.5 units)
REMH8020  Remote & Indigenous Health Promotion (4.5 units)
REMH8012  Project Management (4.5 units)
REMH8021  Chronic Disease in Remote and Indigenous Primary Health Care  (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 1 & 2 topics

plus 18 units chosen from the following:

REMH8020  Remote & Indigenous Health Promotion (4.5 units)
REMH8012  Project Management (4.5 units)
REMH8021  Chronic Disease in Remote and Indigenous Primary Health Care (4.5 units)
REMH8023B  Remote & Indigenous Research Dissertation (4.5 units)*
REMH8023C  Remote & Indigenous Research Dissertation (4.5 units)*
REMH8023D  Remote & Indigenous Research Dissertation (4.5 units)*
REMH8025  Recognising and Responding to Dementia in Indigenous Communities (4.5 units)
REMH8026  Working with people with disabilities in Remote and Indigenous Contexts (4.5 units)
REMH8006  Remote Advanced Nursing Practice & Pharmacotherapeutics (4.5 units)
REMH8007  Remote Advanced Nursing & Family Practice (4.5 units)
REMH8016  Foundations of Remote Health Management; People, Planning And Money (4.5 units)
REMH8017  Remote Health Services: Organisation, Resources And Workforce (4.5 units)
REMH8018  Remote Health Management; policy and leadership
REMH8019  Health Economics (4.5 units)
REMH8024  Remote Primary Health Care Governance, quality and safety (4.5 units)
REMH8010  Remote and Indigenous Individual Practice (4.5 units)
REMH8003  Fundamentals of Remote Allied Health Practice (4.5 units)
REMH8004  Remote and Indigenous Family Medicine  (4.5 units)
REMH8005  Remote and Indigenous Complex Chronic Disease  (4.5 units)
REMH8011  Remote Pharmacy in Practice (4.5 units)
REMH8008  Remote Child Protection Practice 1 (4.5 units)
REMH8009  Remote Child Protection Practice 2 (4.5 units)

*These topics may be taken in addition to REMH 8203A to complete a 9 unit, 13.5 or 18 unit research dissertation

Other topics may be selected from other programs within Flinders University and from other universities in consultation with the Course Coordinator.

Except with permission of the Faculty Board:

  • the program must be completed within 10 consecutive semesters
  • no topic may be attempted more than twice.

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in 18 or more units may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University''s Policy on Student Progress.