Scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health leaders
The WA Government has recognised the inaugural recipients of a new scholarship who will receive financial support to study health-related degrees across Western Australia.
The WA Health Minister’s Our Future, Our Way Scholarship, which is awarded annually, provides a one-off payment of $5,000 to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student excelling in their health studies at each of the five Western Australian universities.
Following a competitive selection process, five recipients were chosen by a selection committee that included representation from the Aboriginal Health Policy Directorate at Department of Health.
Investment in students
Health Minister Meredith Hammat said the Our Future, Our Way Scholarship reflected a commitment to strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership within the WA Health workforce.
“By investing in these outstanding students, we are helping remove financial barriers and supporting them to complete their studies and pursue meaningful careers in WA Health,” she said.
“These inaugural recipients represent the future of healthcare in our State – culturally strong, community-focused, and dedicated to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
The inaugural scholarship recipients receiving funding for 2026 are:
- Samantha West, Nursing (Murdoch University);
- Claudia Walton-McDermott, Medicine (The University of Western Australia);
- Kathryn Lee Yappo-Wilkes, Nursing (The University of Notre Dame Australia);
- Chloe Perk, Occupational Therapy (Curtin University); and
- Ken-Dell Peggy Georgia Councillor, Psychology (Edith Cowan University).
The scholarship forms part of the Our Future, Our Way higher education grant agreements, developed in 2024 between the Aboriginal Health Policy Directorate and the State’s five universities.
These agreements aim to recruit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students into higher education, provide support and retain students, and promote careers within WA Health.
Applications for the 2027 scholarships are open until 30 September 2026.
