Retired ophthalmologists Drs Mary Calthorpe and George Wong have established an endowed fund to support scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying medicine. The Calthorpe Wong Indigenous Medical Scholarship aims to increase the number of Indigenous students working as doctors in Indigenous communities.

One new scholarship will be available each year, subject to funding.

Benefits

Successful scholarship applicants will receive an award of $20,000 per academic year for an initial period of up to four years subject to satisfactory academic progress. Payments will be made in fortnightly instalments.  

Tenure: The scholarship is valid for four years subject to Satisfactory Academic Progress. An extension of one year may be approved in extenuating circumstances. 

Requirements

To be eligible, scholarship applicants must:

  •  Be of Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent; and
  •  Identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent; and
  •  Be accepted as such by the community in which they live or have lived; and
  •  Be enrolled in the Doctor of Medicine at Flinders University; and
  •  Be able to demonstrate financial hardship; and

Students receiving this scholarship will not be eligible to hold similar scholarships concurrently.

Selection Process

Selection will be made by the College of Medicine and Public Health and Yunggorendi Student Services in conjunction with Student Finance and Scholarships.

The Scholarship will be determined on the following selection criteria:

  • Financial need
  • Demonstrated desire to work as a doctor in an Indigenous community post-graduation.

Method of Application

Applications should be submitted online through the Flinders University Student System  by the specified closing date.  

The following documentation will be required as part of the application process:

  • Applicants who are in receipt of a Commonwealth Income Support payment will need to demonstrate evidence of this. This can be done by uploading a recent Centrelink (or DVA) Income Statement which shows you are currently in receipts of government means tested benefits. 
  • Applicants who are not in receipt of a Commonwealth Income Support payment as described above will need to complete the Financial Hardship Form which is downloadable below.

Submit an application

For More Information,

Visit the Official Webpage

Application Deadline: February 26, 2024.