Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health
Indigenous leadership and academic pathways
Mobilising an agenda for equity and change in health practice through training and development programs for emerging and established Indigenous leaders in the health sciences.

About the Centre
The Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, established in 2015, sits within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne. The Centre’s aim is to support Indigenous leaders and provide advice across the board on Indigenous development.
Following a grant by philanthropists Mr Greg Poche AO and Ms Kay Van Norton Poche AO, funding for the Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health was announced in late 2014. Launched in November that year, the Centre is located at the University of Melbourne and is a member of the Poche Indigenous Health Network, which consists of five centres at five universities across Australia.
Supporting the development of emerging Indigenous leaders.
Melbourne Poche Leadership Program
London, 20-26 May 2018
The Poche Leadership Fellows Program is tailored to meet the needs of Indigenous early career professionals with a health focus across higher education, government, health service delivery and community sectors. The interactive Program brings together Fellows and helps foster networks and collaboration.
The second module of three saw participants visit London, the heart of the empire to re-imagine how they each view their leadership. The purpose was to engage with the city, challenge what the participants see, to be challenged by what they see and to engage intellectually with the history, the present, the privilege and the disruption.
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Leadership Fellows Program
The Melbourne Poche Leadership Fellows Program supports the development of emerging Indigenous leaders in academic, policy, clinical and research roles in Higher Education institutions, government, health delivery and the community sector.
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Poche Leadership Portal
Our Fellows are outstanding individuals with incredible knowledge, skills, interests and talents to assist you in representing and strengthening Indigenous health leadership in your industry or organisation.
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PhD Familiarisation
The Familiarisation Program, our annual fully-funded program introducing prospective Indigenous PhD students to the University of Melbourne, preparing them for graduate research study has now been run for 2019.
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Graduate Programs
The Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education conducts two graduate programs:
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Professional Certificate in Indigenous Research, and the Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Research and Leadership.
PhD Students
The Melbourne Poche Centre supports Indigenous early career researchers right through their PhD journey, from pre-application through to post-doctoral support. Using a unique, supportive approach to respond to Indigenous research students’ requirements, the Centre has grown to be a critical hub of support for the next generation of health leaders. Please explore our engagement and outreach programs to identify your next step in becoming a future health researcher.
PhD Scholarship Opportunity - Measuring developmental outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
Expression of Interest
The Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School, is offering a three-year scholarship for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander graduate to undertake a PhD in the Unit for Indigenous Child Development Measures (Department of Paediatrics) based at the Melbourne Children’s Campus (Royal Children’s Hospital). The scholarship includes an annual stipend of $50,000 a year tax free, for three years, with additional non-financial support (e.g. research costs, travel, conference support etc).
For more information click here.
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Academic Shepherding
Prospective Indigenous PhD students are connected with senior Professors at the University, who can assist applicants throughout the application process. Areas of support provided in the shepherding include assistance with regards to navigating admissions criteria, articulating applicant's research experience and training, and being an advocate for applicants through the selection process.
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Financial Support
All Indigenous PhD students at the University of Melbourne are guaranteed a research training program stipend (or equivalent). Additional Scholarships are also available as is potential opportunities for paid casual work throughout candidature.
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Supervisors and Mentors
The Melbourne Poche Centre connects Indigenous PhD students with leading researchers and other experts across various disciplines. Whether you need assistance with finding a supervisor, looking for a mentor or something else, please get in touch.
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Resources
The Poche Resources hub brings together a collection of articles, books, and multi-media materials relating to Indigenous health and Indigenous leadership. These materials have been collected with the aim of sharing relevant information amongst Poche Network members and building the evidence base of best practice initiatives in Indigenous health.
Other Resources
Connect
Connect with us, we want to hear from you. Please use the staff list below to contact the appropriate staff member regarding your enquiry. Or follow us on our social media pages for regular updates.
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Shawana Andrews, Associate Director
Email: shawanaa@unimeb.edu.au
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Warwick Padgham, Manager Indigenous Student Programs
Email: Warwick.padgham@unimelb.edu.au
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Jenn Johnston, Executive Assistant
Email: jmjohn@unimelb.edu.au
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Péta Phelan, Manager Alumni Development
Email: p.phelan@unimelb.edu.au
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Odette Mazel, Senior Research Fellow
Email: omazel@hotmail.com
Phone: 03 8344 9160