Purple Bush Medicine Leaves Bursary Program [2024]
Bursary Program 2024
Now in its fourth year, the launch of the 2024 Purple Bush Medicine Leaves Bursary Program, (on Sunday 26 May 2024) coincides with National Sorry Day and at the commencement of National Reconciliation Week, with this year’s theme being “Now More Than Ever”.
Lydia Pitcher
Bursary Program Co-Convenor
"Thank you for the wonderful applications and to our supporters and sponsors who have made this possible again in 2023! We look forward to our announcing the selection panel’s decision next week during NAIDOC celebrations (Sunday 2-9 July 2023). Read the stories of the 2021 and 2022 recipients."
Lydia Pitcher
See Sponsors and watch the Story of the Healing Foundation.
About the Bursary Program
About the Bursary
Important Dates
Bursary Background
Previous Recipients
About the Bursary
The Australian Federation of Medical Women, as part of their commitment to reconciliation and the Makarrata Commission would like to encourage and empower a female medical graduate who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, to further their medical career and/or leadership aspirations.
The Purple Bush Medicine Leaves Bursary Program, inaugurated in 2021 and now in its 4th year, is one component of a broader Project of the AFMW – to advance the parity of representation of First Nations Peoples in the Australian medical workforce, and in its leadership.
In 2024, the AFMW is offering up to four (4) bursaries for this purpose, each valued at $1250, with the awards to be announced in NAIDOC Week in July 2024.
The recipients will include women who identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, are Medical Graduates or in their final year of medicine of an Australian medical degree or course.
The bursaries will provide the recipients with a financial contribution to assist their attendance and/or presentation at a national or international meeting that focuses on issues related to Indigenous Medicine and Education, Women in Medicine, Ethics, Leadership and/or Governance (see suggestions below).
Please apply by Monday 1 July 2024 by either downloading the application form then emailing the completed form with personal statement to [email protected] or apply online today.
Important Dates
- Sunday 26 May 2024 – Applications open (National Sorry Day)
- Monday 1 July 2024 – Applications close
- Monday 8 July 2024 – Applicants are advised of the selection panel’s decision
- NAIDOC Week 7-14 July 2024 – Bursary Recipients formally announced
The Presentation of the Bursary may be held at a dinner event of the relevant State Medical Women’s Society and/or at the AFMW Face to Face meeting in November (in compliance with any Coronavirus restrictions at that time), either in person or virtually.
If you have any queries or concerns when completing this application, please do not hesitate to contact the bursary co-co-ordinator Dr Lydia Pitcher at [email protected]
Bursary Background
The Bursary is part of the AFMW’s Commitment to its Reconciliation Action Plan.
It has been made possible through contributions to the Purple Bush Medicine Leaves Project, initiated in 2019, on the occasion of the Centennial of the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA), and in collaboration with Artist Louise Numina and designer Pia du Pradal. One goal of this project is to move towards parity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation within the medical profession in Australia.
Each Bursary will provide the recipient with financial support to attend an event to enable professional development, recognition, networking, academic advancement, and leadership opportunity. The AFMW would like to learn from the recipients’ experiences, and as such, feedback after the event would be greatly appreciated but is not required.
It is hoped that the recipients of the Bursaries will also receive other non-financial benefits through their connection with the Bursary Program, such as mentoring and engagement with the diversity of medical women and their interests within the AFMW.
Suggested meetings and conferences for which the Bursary may relevant are listed below, and include national and international meetings and events.
Previous Recipients
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Selection Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply you must meet each of the Eligibility Criteria. You are:
- A person who identifies as a female Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- A medical graduate, or medical student in the final year of an Australian medical degree or course
- Preferably, a member of their local (State) Medical Women’s Society
- Intending to register and/or present at a relevant meeting, conference or event (See examples of such events below)
Examples of Conferences and Meetings that may be relevant (but not exclusive) to this Bursary:
- Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) Conference, annually or PRIDoc (Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors Congress)
- Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) Biannual Connection events
- Australian Federation of Medical Women Face to Face meeting, annually, November
- Rural Medicine Australia Conference
- Commission on the Status of Women, New York as AFMW Delegate and/or presenter at the AFMW Parallel event (annually in February)
- Professional development workshops, on topics for example, including Doctor Wellbeing, Ethics, Leadership and Governance in the Medical Workforce
- Medical Women’s International Association Meetings:
- MWIA Triennial Conference
- MWIA Regional Conference e.g. Western Pacific
- WHO World Health Assembly, Geneva, annually in May
- Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA) National Convention, annually
Selection Criteria
The following Selection Criteria, including the Personal Statement, will be used to assess your application (Providing your Curriculum Vitae is optional in addition to this). You can:
- Explain your interest in the field of medicine and your career aspirations
- Detail how the bursary will assist you in participating in professional development activities
- Accept the bursary in person or virtually at a State Medical Women’s Society dinner meeting (there are four of these annually) and/or for the AFMW (Face to Face Meeting, annually in November).
Thank you to our Donors and Sponsors
Our sincere thanks to the growing group of supporters and sponsors, who have once again committed to the Purple Bush Medicine Leaves Program in 2024.
In particular, we thank to Ms Leann Wilson, from Regional Economic Solutions, our other founding sponsors Ochre Health and Myuma , and of course members and donors of AFMW.
We also welcome back our 2023 supporter, the Healing Foundation. Watch the Story of the Healing Foundation describing the role of this organisation in addressing intergenerational trauma – and hence the willingness to support the Purple Bush Medicine Leaves Bursary Program.
See also the AFMW Submission in Support of Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Apply
- Applications Now Open and Close Mon 1 July 2024
We offer two methods to submit an application. You can apply online now by completing the application form below, or if you prefer you can download the MS Word application and email the completed application to us by the due date.
Submit Online Application
Ready to apply? Please complete all sections of the following application form:
