The Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association: A Journey through the First 25 Years
Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association
Who funded the project
In 2022, the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association celebrates its 25th anniversary. To mark this occasion, AIDA commissioned Karabena Publishing to develop a publication of its 25-year history to be launched at its conference in October 2022, and a short film to be shown at its Gala Dinner in June 2022.
The project reflects the positive outcomes of AIDA’s history, the contribution it has made to the changing landscape of Indigenous health in Australia, and the positive impacts of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors in the Australian health system.
Summary
To produce a written history and a short film showcasing the achievements of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association since its inception in 1997.
Project Aims
In consultation with AIDA Project Manager Mary Guthrie, and AIDA History Advisory Committee, we identified approx. 20 people to be interviewed for the history.
In total we audio interviewed 17 past and current AIDA members, students, staff and associates. We then filmed 11 (9 already audio interviewed and 2 others).
We worked with AIDA staff at its Canberra offices to ensure that we captured all available historical material available for the history, e.g. photographs, films, reports, policy documents, media releases, data, memorabilia from conferences, workshops, etc.
Methodologies
By interviewing past and current AIDA members, students, staff and associates, AIDA now has a valuable and unique resource that it can make available to all those interested in the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Australia.
Methodological outcomes
A 12-minute film on the history of AIDA shown at the AIDA Gala Dinner, Celebrating the Past, Challenging the Future, in Sydney on 4 June 2022.
17 x audio recorded and 11 x filmed interviews that can be archived at AIDA, AIATSIS and/or NLA
Outputs
The 25-year history of AIDA is:
a good news story that may well inspire more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to consider medicine as a career
a great resource – film, book and oral history interviews – for all those interested in the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
Project Outcomes
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health; medical workforce; Indigenous peoples’ health; social and emotional wellbeing; oral history