This program appeals to a wide variety of individuals-both Indigenous and non-Indigenous-who have an interest in Indigenous issues and a desire to upgrade their professional qualifications to fully realize their aspirations.

Many students in the program are already working for a health clinic, a land council, a development hub, an employment service provider, local government, a counselling organisation, a women's' shelter, a relationships centre or elsewhere in the human services sector. The program is also attractive to individuals and organisations that wish to engage more fully or more effectively with Indigenous people and Indigenous organisations. Some of these organisations include mining companies, government agencies, tourism operators, and other businesses that are developing or committed to an Indigenous employment strategy.

Some students in the program already have a clear area of professional expertise (e.g., in business, human resource management, environmental management, education, health promotion, community development, project management or information and communication technology) but are seeking to deepen their understanding of Indigenous issues and to thereby improve their ability to engage with Indigenous people and organisations. For many such students, the Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Studies is the final qualification that they plan to obtain. Some of the other students in the program choose to treat the Graduate Certificate as a way of commencing a plan for further learning that includes the associated Graduate Diploma of Indigenous Studies or the Master of Indigenous Studies. It must be recognized, however, that successful completion of the Graduate Certificate does not guarantee entry into the Graduate Diploma or the Master's program.