Abstract
The Centre for Aboriginal Studies "flagship" course, the Aboriginal Community Management and Development program, providing degree and associate degree studies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples proved highly successful. Emerging from an innovative competency-based design the program eventually drew hundreds of students from across Australia, continuing to embody the principles of self-determination, empowerment and community development, culturally appropriate teaching and learning strategies identified and addressed the real-world problems experienced in students' everyday life and organizational settings. This not only opened the doors to many opportunities for graduates, but enabled them to more effectively address the needs, priorities and aspirations of their communities. The immense sense of excitement, joy and accomplishment emerging from these ground-breaking innovations was evident in the intense feeling associated with the individual and collective achievements experienced by graduates. Throughout these developments, a commitment to Aboriginalization and Aboriginal governance ensured Aboriginal people had major input and control of the processes of development and operation of the program. An Aboriginal Community Health Program based on similar educational principles and processes further added to the strength and influence of programs and services that recognized Aboriginal heritage, culture and identity and rights as central to Aboriginal people's well-being.