2027 Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship round now open: Join the legacy, join the health workforce
Media Release – 1 September 2026
Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) and the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP), supported by the Rural Doctors Network (RDN), are pleased to announce that applications for the 2027 Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Round are now open.
The Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship was established in honour of Dr Arnold “Puggy” Hunter, a pioneer within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector and a widely respected Aboriginal leader. The program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander undergraduate students completing an eligible entry-level health qualification.
Emily Hunter, the daughter of Puggy, provides essential leadership to the program and contributes her time to sit on the Governance Committee and assess scholarship applications. Emily said “each year I get to experience the joy of reading applications and seeing the future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical workforce ready to continue the legacy of my father, our other leaders and old people. It always heartens me to know we have such amazing students coming through, who will go on to make great change and help deliver culturally responsive care to our people, and to all Australians”.
In the two years since the IAHA led consortium transitioned the program to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, 292 new scholarships have been awarded to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health students from across the country, with more than 100 scholarships available again in 2027.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students can apply today. Applications close 31 October 2026.
Background
The Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship provides scholarships to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to succeed in their undergraduate health studies.
The scholarship provides access to financial and culturally responsive supports, mentoring, and other opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying in health, including access to up to $15,000 per annum (full time) for the normal duration of the course.
The program is administered under Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community control, led by Indigenous Allied Health Australia, the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and the Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Cultural Governance Committee.
IAHA and our partners acknowledge funding provided by the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Media contact
Paul Gibson
Chief Operating Officer
Indigenous Allied Health Australia
paul@iaha.com.au | (02) 6285 1010
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