Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Studies

School of Arts & Sciences

If you work in Indigenous Communities in any field, the Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Studies will give you a sound understanding of issues related to Aboriginal People in Australia. The program covers a range of significant and contemporary areas of study, including Aboriginal history, spirituality, culture, politics, and issues surrounding the principles and practices of reconciliation. The program is to be studied over one year part-time with flexible blended delivery. You will have the opportunity to attend The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Broome Campus in Western Australia for intensive study to gain a sound understanding of issues related to Aboriginal people. Start making a difference today.

• Why study this degree?

  While the Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Studies will be of particular value to those already working with Indigenous communities, this program also provides valuable background for anyone whose career in health promotion, medicine, justice, education or social work brings them into contact with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. This degree will be of great value for anyone working in local, State or Federal Government – or indeed staff employed by NGOs in Australia.

  The Graduate Certificate is a part-time program, with four courses completed over the year. All students are required to undertake a course entitled The Silent History. This provides you with a foundational knowledge of the history of Indigenous Australia, as well as how various government policies have affected the lives of Indigenous Australians.

  The remaining three electives allow you to specialise in topics such as Aboriginal People and the Legal System, the role of the media in representing Indigenous Peoples, Aboriginal culture and spirituality and more. To encourage a genuine understanding of Indigenous cultures, students will have the opportunity to spend time at Notre Dame’s Broome Campus.

  You will be mentored by well-known and highly respected Indigenous facilitators, who have previously included Yawuru man and WA Senator Patrick Dodson; Peter Yu, a Yawuru man from Broome with more than 35 years’ experience in Indigenous affairs and advocacy; and Traditional Owners from both Yawuru Country (Broome) and Karajarri Country (just south of Broome).

• Program summary

  The Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Studies requires the completion of four courses which can be studied in one year, or up to a maximum five years. Students are required to undertake one compulsory core Aboriginal Studies course, ABOR5000 The Silent History, and three additional elective courses.

  ABOR5000 The Silent History is delivered as a face-toface intensive session over 8 days at the Broome Campus. This course is not offered online due to the valuable learning and understanding that students gain from the on-Country experience which cannot be replicated in an online environment. It includes an overnight camping trip with Traditional Owners.

  Most students who come to Broome in June for ABOR5000 also stay on to complete the elective course ABOR5010 The Cultural and Spiritual Life of Aboriginal People over a further 5 days. This course is not offered online.

  Students doing both ABOR5000 and ABOR5010 in the 2.5 week Broome intensive program need to study a further two electives to complete the program. The two electives can be chosen from the following online courses, via weekly webinar lectures and group discussions:

  • ABOR5030 Aboriginal People in Contemporary Australian Society
  • ABOR5040 Aboriginal People and the Media
  • ABOR5310 Aboriginal People and the Legal System

  A further self-directed, literature-based research project is also available to those who have completed at least two other courses and who have a particular area of research that interests them. This course, ABOR5250 Special Projects, is completed independently, with regular supervisor meetings across semester 1 or 2.

  Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

  More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions pages Fremantle Sydney.

  Please note: the availability of these courses is indicative only and may be subject to change.

• Mode of study and assessment

  Courses for the Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Studies combine independent study with intensive learning on the Broome Campus during the June/July Winter Term. Electives will also be offered over the duration of Semester 1 and 2 using webinars and online group discussions. Assessment usually comprises three written pieces per course which may include critical reviews, research papers, essays or reflective activities.

• Entry requirements

  A Bachelor’s degree from a recognised Australian or overseas university or equivalent, plus alternative pathways for those with relevant work experience.

• Learning outcomes

  Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Studies graduates will be able to;

  1. Demonstrate knowledge regarding past and present Indigenous policy, Indigenous experiences, and cultures and the social, cultural, political, historical, and contemporary relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples
  2. Analyse past and present issues and policies affecting the lives of Indigenous Peoples
  3. Assess the quality of public debate about Indigenous policy and contribute respectfully to it
  4. Construct and communicate well-structured arguments and ideas effectively using appropriate forms
  5. Plan and conduct investigations into complex issues, synthesising information from a range of sources
  6. Reflect on how increased cultural self-awareness has influenced their ways of thinking, being and doing in relation to Indigenous People in their lives as both citizens and professionals; and
  7. Work independently and, where appropriate, in collaboration with others.

• Career opportunities

  A Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Studies can lead to or enrich careers in community and youth work, justice, education, local, state and federal government departments, health care and health promotion and non-government organisations (NGOs).

• Real-world experience

  You will learn from our academics, who are leaders in their field. While there are no practicum requirements for this program, you will gain from the on-Country experience in Broome, which includes an overnight camping trip with Karajarri Rangers and Traditional Owners.

• Scholarships

  Scholarships provide financial support to students while they are completing their studies. There are various scholarships available to prospective and current students, across all study levels and campuses.

  These can be funded by Notre Dame, industry, individuals and non-profit organisations, to provide financial assistance to students to support costs associated with study. This could include buying food, paying rent, transport, and household bills, raising children as single parents, being a single-income household, becoming unemployed or caring for a sick loved one.

  Please visit the Scholarships Finder to see which scholarships are available to Postgraduate students.

• Fees and costs

  This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:

  Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
  A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a place at a university where the Australian Government pays part of your fees. This part is a subsidy, not a loan, and you don’t have to pay it back. However, this subsidy does not cover the entire cost of your study. Students must pay the rest, which is called the ‘student contribution amount’.

  In a Commonwealth Supported Place, your fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your fees will be split into two portions:

  The Commonwealth contribution, which is the portion paid by the Australian Government.

  The student contribution, which is the portion you pay. You may choose to pay upfront or defer your student contribution with a HECS-HELP Loan. The HECS-HELP loan scheme assists eligible students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your HECS-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

  Eligible students will be offered a CSP – you do not need to apply.

  For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees, costs and scholarships page.

• More information

  Considering your uni options?
  Our advisors provide support while choosing a program of study and completing our application process.

  If you need advice about studying at Notre Dame, the Prospective Students Office can help. Book a 1-on-1 advice session with a career advisor or call us on 1800 878 916.

  Fremantle and Broome
  Email: future@nd.edu.au
  Address: 23 High St, Fremantle, WA 6160

  Sydney and Melbourne
  Email: sydney@nd.edu.au
  Address: 128-140 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008