Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA), the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP) and Rural Doctors Network (RDN) are proud to announce that applications for the 2026 Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship (PHMSS) round are now open.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health students who are studying – or planning to enrol in – a health degree in 2026 are encouraged to apply between 1 September and 31 October 2025.
Now in its 23rd year, the scholarship was established to honour the legacy of Dr Arnold ‘Puggy’ Hunter, a respected Nyikina man who dedicated his life to addressing health inequity and empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through self-determination and community control.
The Puggy Hunter scholarship aims to build a culturally strong, highly skilled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce that improves access and outcomes, especially in rural and remote communities.
It supports more than 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students annually to study entry-level health courses at university or via registered training organisations.
Carrying the fight
‘The Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship invests in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from diverse backgrounds, who want to carry forward the fight for health equity,’ said IAHA Chief Executive Officer Donna Murray, who is a Wiradyuri and Wonnarua woman.
‘It is a flexible and culturally responsive program helping our next generation of health workforce not only to aspire, but to thrive in their studies and beyond,’ she said.
Emily Hunter, Nyikina and Kokatha woman and daughter of Puggy Hunter was an inaugural recipient of the scholarship and said that ‘receiving this scholarship gave me more than just financial support, it gave me belief in myself and a sense of purpose.
‘I’m now working as the after-hours Nurse at the Broome Hospital, giving back to my community, just like my father did, and building on this legacy.’
Vital role
‘This scholarship plays a vital role in ensuring equitable access to education and supporting students to succeed as we build a strong, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led health workforce,’ said Karl Briscoe, Kuku Yalanji man and NAATSIHWP Chief Executive Officer.
Since 1 July 2024, the PHMSS has been proudly managed within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community control, by Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) in partnership with the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP) and with support from the Rural Doctors Network (RDN).
This Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led approach ensures culturally safe delivery tailored to the lived experiences and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Applications are now open.
Applicants must be:
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• Studying or intending to study an eligible entry-level health-related course; and
• Intending to study in the 2026 academic year.
Applications close at 5:00pm AEDT, Thursday 31 October 2025. Learn more or apply now at www.iaha.com.au/
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