Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Scholarships

Since January 2017, in partnership with AIDA, CATSINAM and IAHA, the RFDS has provided financial support through scholarships to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health students undertaking clinical placements in remote and rural Australia. This has been a commitment under the RFDS Reconciliation Plan, and as an effort to contribute to the growth of an appropriate and skilled rural health workforce.

These scholarships are for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students currently undertaking a relevant tertiary degree in medicine; nursing; midwifery; or allied health.

Through these scholarships, recipients learn about rural practice and feedback shows the experience inspired many to work in rural and remote areas when they complete their studies. To date, 31 students have benefited from this scheme and applications are once again open to student members of the three partner organisations for 2023.

Scholarships are available to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students undertaking an appropriate remote or rural clinical placement in the following fields:

• Medicine (to be administered by Australian Indigenous Doctor’s Association (AIDA); 
• Nursing or Midwifery (to be administered by the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINAM);
• Allied Health (to be administered by Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA).

Please visit the relevant websites above for more information about the 2022 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholarship program. Please note scholarship applicants must be current members of AIDA, CATSINAM or IAHA as relevant.