Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Australian Cultural Studies

The Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Australian Cultural Studies at Curtin University is a short postgraduate qualification for people who want a serious grounding in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories and contemporary issues. It is a graduate certificate, which means it sits at AQF level 8, one step above a bachelor degree and below a master's. At Curtin, courses like this are built from units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, and you normally complete them over one semester of full-time study. The published duration is 26 weeks. Part-time study is often possible, so confirm the exact pattern with Curtin before you apply.

What you actually study

Expect to work through Indigenous knowledges, colonisation and its ongoing effects, identity, land and country, and the ways Indigenous perspectives are applied in professional settings. Teaching usually combines lectures, tutorials and online material, with assessment through essays, reports, presentations and reflective writing rather than exams alone. Because it is a graduate certificate, the workload is focused: a small number of units, studied in depth. The exact unit list changes from year to year, so check the official Curtin course page for the current structure and credit points.

Who it suits

This qualification suits several groups. Teachers, nurses, social workers, public servants, lawyers, journalists and community sector staff who work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and want more than a one-day workshop. Graduates from any discipline considering a master's in Indigenous studies or a related field. And Indigenous students who want to study their own cultures within a university setting. If you already hold a bachelor degree, you are generally eligible; some institutions also consider relevant work experience, so ask Curtin about entry pathways.

Studying in Australia and what comes next

If you are an international student, you will need to meet Curtin's English requirement and the separate English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs for the Student visa. On a Student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream lets eligible graduates stay and work in Australia, check the current rules on the Department of Home Affairs website, because they change. This is a graduate certificate, so check whether it meets the Australian study requirement for the 485 visa before you rely on it. Fees are not published here; confirm tuition, intake dates and English equivalencies directly with Curtin.

• Community services and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations
• Government policy and public sector roles in Indigenous affairs
• Education and school support, including Indigenous education programs
• Health and wellbeing services working with Indigenous communities
• Cultural heritage, museums, galleries and land management
• Media, journalism and communications
• Further study, a pathway towards a master's in Indigenous studies or related fields