Tasmania names 10 health scholarship recipients
Ten Aboriginal healthcare students have received 2026 Ida West Aboriginal Health Scholarships in Tasmania, honouring Aunty Ida West and supporting studies with up to $5,000 annually.
Bridget Archer, Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, said this year’s cohort includes three new recipients and ongoing scholarship support for seven recipients who continue to meet eligibility and demonstrate academic success.
Key Points
- Ten Aboriginal healthcare students receive 2026 Ida West Scholarships in Tasmania
- Awards honour Aunty Ida West’s legacy of social justice and reconciliation
- Three new recipients and seven continuing recipients named this year
- Up to $5,000 available per recipient in each calendar year
- Recipients celebrated at Piyura Kitina on 11 May 2026
- Since 2004, 46 students have been supported across multiple health fields
- Total of $448,750 distributed in scholarship support since inception
Scholarships awarded for 2026
The scholarships provide financial support to Aboriginal students undertaking education in health and human services-related fields. The programme is designed to assist students to achieve their study goals in areas critical to the healthcare workforce and community wellbeing.
The awards are valued at up to $5,000 per recipient in each calendar year, offering flexible assistance as students progress through their studies.
Recipients, their families and guests gathered at Piyura Kitina to mark the achievements of the 2026 cohort and to acknowledge the continuing impact of the scholarship programme on participants’ education pathways. The event highlighted both new entrants to the programme and students whose support continues as they advance academically.
Honouring Aunty Ida West
The scholarship pays tribute to Aunty Ida West, who passed away in September 2023. The Minister emphasised that the programme recognises her longstanding contributions to social justice and reconciliation in Tasmania and nationally. The initiative bears her name in recognition of her leadership and influence as an Aboriginal elder.
“Aunty Ida West was one of Tasmania’s foremost Aboriginal elders and made significant contributions to social justice and reconciliation both in Tasmania and nationally,” Ms Archer said.
By continuing the scholarships in her name, the programme seeks to support Aboriginal students as they pursue qualifications that benefit both their careers and their communities. Past recipients have described the scholarship as critically important in allowing them to complete their studies, and as having a significant impact on their passion to contribute to their communities after graduation.
Program details
The Ida West Aboriginal Health Scholarships support Aboriginal students undertaking education in health and human services-related fields, including but not limited to medicine, allied health, nursing and midwifery. The financial assistance is intended to reduce barriers to participation and completion, enabling recipients to focus on academic success and professional development.
Since the scholarship’s inception in 2004, 46 students have been supported across a range of qualifications and disciplines that contribute to health and community services. Fields of study supported by the scholarship include:
- Nursing and midwifery
- Medicine
- Paramedicine
- Allied health
- Aboriginal health
- Community services qualifications
Over this period, a total of $448,750 has been provided in scholarship support. The funding has helped recipients meet the costs associated with study, which past recipients have identified as critically important to completing their courses. The scholarship is awarded up to a maximum of $5,000 per recipient in each calendar year.
