The Purple Bush Medicine Leaves Bursary Program
Supporting Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander medical women to grow, connect & lead
Giving back to those who already give so much
”The bush medicine leaves are a traditional medicine, collected from an abundant shrub in the desert and highly prized for their restorative powers.
The leaves change colour as they dry and fall to the ground. They can be ground into a milky substance, or boiled to obtain a resin that is combined with kangaroo fat to create a long lasting balm.
The Dreaming Story pays homage to the plant, encouraging it to grow and replenish the leaves for further use”
Louise Numina Napananka
A project grounded in reconciliation
The Purple Bush Medicine Leaves Bursary Program grew from the Australian Federation of Medical Women’s commitment to reconciliation and from a creative contribution made during the 2019 centennial celebrations of the Medical Women’s International Association in New York. For this occasion, AFMW contributed a fabric square featuring the Purple Bush Medicine Leaves artwork.
From this beginning, the project was developed and championed by AFMW members Dr Lydia Pitcher and A/Prof Deb Colville, in collaboration with artist Louise Numina Napananka and designer Pia du Pradal. This work led to the inauguration of the Purple Bush Medicine Leaves Bursary Program in 2021.
The project was created with a shared purpose: to recognise the inequities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in the medical workforce, and to build a practical means of supporting their career development, leadership, visibility and participation in medicine.
Louise Numina Napananka, the artist of the piece, is an Anmatyerre/Kaytetye woman from Utopia in the Central Desert region. She is one of the celebrated Numina Sisters, whose bold and vibrant works are grounded in, and reflective of, their rich cultural tapestry and connections.
This collaboration carries deep symbolic meaning for a bursary created by medical women, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in medicine. Louise’s work embodies the strength of matriarchal knowledge, healing, legacy and women’s business — honouring the wisdom passed through mothers, aunties and grandmothers, and carried forward by women across generations.
These themes sit at the heart of the Bursary: to honour, recognise and support women who are already leading, caring, advocating, mentoring and giving back to their communities.
As part of the original project, Louise’s Purple Bush Medicine Leaves design was also translated into a scarf range by designer Pia du Pradal, with proceeds supporting the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women in Medicine Project.
Pia has since retired, and pieces from her range are no longer available for purchase. The scarves now hold a special place in the Bursary’s story and are presented to recipients as meaningful mementos of the project’s origins, artwork and purpose.
With the ongoing generosity of sponsors and supporters, the number and value of bursaries offered has grown over time — something for which we are deeply proud and grateful.
Through both financial and non-financial support, the Bursary seeks to reduce barriers, foster connection, and strengthen opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in medicine.
At its heart, it is a way of giving back to women who already give so much.
– Dr Loyola Wills [2024 & 2025 bursary recipient & PBML alumnae]
The Shared Journey
Application Guide
In 2026, the Purple Bush Medicine Leaves Bursary Program applications will open on National Sorry Day, Tuesday 26 May 2026 — a day of remembrance, healing and action.
Now in its sixth year, the Program continues to give back to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in medicine who are already leading, caring, advocating and contributing so much to their communities.
This year, at least Five (5) bursaries valued at $1,500 each will be available to support professional development, leadership, networking and academic opportunities, with recipients to be announced during NAIDOC Week, 5–12 July 2026.
This growth has been made possible through the generosity of our donors, sponsors and supporters.
Applicants are encouraged to review the Eligibility and Selection Criteria tabs before applying.
Applications may be submitted online here and will close on Monday 29 June 2026.
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
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
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).
Applications open (National Sorry Day) – Tuesday 26 May 2026
Applications close – Monday 29 June 2026
Bursary Recipients formally announced – NAIDOC Week 5-12 July 2026
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, 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-coordinator Dr Lydia Pitcher at [email protected]
With gratitude to those who make this possible
Our sincere thanks to the growing group of supporters and sponsors, who have once again committed to the Purple Bush Medicine Leaves Program.
We sincerely thank in particular, Louise Numina Napananka for the beautiful artwork associated with the bursaries, as well as Ochre Health, Ms Leann Wilson from Regional Economic Solutions, The Myuma Group, Dr Mary Rita See, Pia du Pradal and AFMW donors/members for their ongoing support for the Bursary Program.
A special thanks to The Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA) for their role in providing oversight, guidance and advice for the Program throughout the years.
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.