Investing in Indigenous Excellence: Creating Pathways Through Opportunity

The first semester of 2026 has been another successful period for the MDHS Indigenous Development Portfolio, with 24 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students receiving support through three key grant programs focused on professional development, research capability, and student mobility.

Through the MDHS Professional Development Grant, Indigenous Student Mobility & Engagement Grant (ISMEG), and MDHS Indigenous Research Training Bursary, recipients have gained opportunities to expand their knowledge, strengthen professional networks, develop leadership skills, and pursue experiences that support their academic and career aspirations.

This semester, funding supported 12 recipients through the MDHS Professional Development Grant, 3 recipients through ISMEG, and 9 recipients through the MDHS Indigenous Research Training Bursary. Together, these programs represent an ongoing investment in Indigenous excellence and create pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students to thrive across health, education, and research.

The MDHS Professional Development Grant has enabled staff to participate in conferences, workshops, and specialised training opportunities across Australia and internationally. These experiences have supported leadership growth, enhanced professional capability, and provided opportunities to share and exchange Indigenous knowledge on a global stage, strengthening the University of Melbourne’s commitment to Indigenous engagement, research excellence, and global collaboration.

For students, the Indigenous Student Mobility & Engagement Grant has provided valuable educational, clinical, and cultural experiences beyond the classroom. Recipients attended the ANZCA Annual Scientific Meeting in Auckland and completed professional placements in Alice Springs, gaining insights into diverse healthcare settings and building connections with clinicians and health professionals.

Looking ahead, students will participate in PRIDoC 2026 in November, connecting with Indigenous medical students, health professionals, researchers, and peers from across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. These experiences will continue to strengthen students’ understanding of culturally responsive healthcare while building the skills, confidence, and networks needed for their future careers.

Beyond supporting individual recipients, these programs contribute to a stronger and more connected MDHS community. By investing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students, the Faculty is supporting Indigenous leadership, strengthening research capability, and helping to shape a culturally responsive health workforce that will contribute to improved health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The MDHS Indigenous Development Portfolio looks forward to celebrating the achievements of grant recipients and sharing the stories of how these opportunities are shaping careers, strengthening communities, and inspiring future generations.

These initiatives reflect MDHS’s ongoing commitment to Indigenous excellence and align with the University of Melbourne’s Advancing Health 2032 strategy. Through investment in people, opportunity, and capability, the Faculty is helping shape a culturally responsive and future-focused health workforce that contributes to improved health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

As the year progresses, the MDHS Indigenous Development Portfolio looks forward to celebrating the achievements of grant recipients and sharing the stories of how these opportunities are shaping careers, strengthening communities, and inspiring future generations.

Image supplied by Laura Booker-Sullivan during her Professional Development Grant activity.

“There is a wisdom that can only be encountered by slowing down long enough to be held by Country. For five days, I returned to my ancestral Lunga Gidja Country, where my ancestors' stories and knowledge are woven into the landscape. It is a place where I remember who I am. It is a place that strengthens me both personally and professionally.” - Laura Booker-Sullivan