- APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED - Applicants will be advised of the selection panel’s decision during NAIDOC Week (Sunday 2-9 July 2023)
See Sponsors and watch the Story of the Healing Foundation.
- APPLICATIONS CLOSE Monday 26 June 2023
Read the wonderful stories of the 2021 and 2022 recipients."
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 identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, to further their medical career and/or leadership aspirations.
This bursary is one step in a broader goal of the AFMW – to advance the parity of representation of First Nations Peoples in the Australian medical workforce, and in its leadership.
The AFMW is offering a $1000 bursary for this purpose, with the inaugural award to be announced in NAIDOC Week in July 2023.
The recipient will be a woman who identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, is a Medical Graduate or in their final year of medicine of an Australian medical degree or course.
The bursary will provide the recipient 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 26th June 2023 by either downloading the application form then emailing the completed form with personal statement to [email protected] or apply online today.
- Friday 26 May 2023 – Applications open
- Monday 26 June 2023 – Applications close
- Monday 3 July 2023 – Applicants are advised of the selection panel’s decision
- NAIDOC Week 2-9 July 2023 – Formal announcement of Bursary Recipient.
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.
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.
The 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 their experiences, and as such, feedback after the event would be greatly appreciated but is not required.
It is hoped that the recipient of the Bursary will also receive other non-financial benefits through their connection with this bursary and the AFMW, 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.
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
- 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:
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 2023.
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.
And in 2023, we welcome our new 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 that is an especially important resource for members in this year of the Referendum on the Voice to Parliament.
Apply
- APPLICATIONS CLOSE 26 June 2023
- APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED - Applicants will be advised of the selection panel’s decision during NAIDOC Week (Sunday 2-9 July 2023)
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:
MBBS (Hons) FRACP FRCPA BMedSc
Co-Convenor, AFMW Purple Bush Medicine Leaves Bursary Program.
Vice President, Australian Federation of Medical Women Inc 2018-2022.
Past President, Queensland Medical Women’s Society 2016-2019.
