New Narn gon, Ngarn kula publishing award announced for Indigenous Graduate Researchers
A new one-off scholarship of $28, 000 for graduate research students was announced at the MDHS Indigenous Conference at the Woodward Centre 11 August 2026.
The Narn gon, Ngarn kula Indigenous Graduate Researcher Publishing Payment was established with a gift from the Duncan Leary Bequest and is available to Indigenous graduate researchers in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science while awaiting the outcome of their PhD thesis.
Wurundjeri Elder, Uncle Bill Nicholson formally named the award ‘Narn gon, Ngarn kula’, which means ‘understand’ in the Woiwurrung language, reflecting the concept of connection, partnership and knowledge sharing.
This award provides a fortnightly payment with a rate of $2150 per fortnight for six months. It will be used to support graduates during the period following a thesis submission, before an examination result is obtained.
The scholarship will be funded from this year through to 2029 and will support Indigenous Graduate Researchers and will enable the next generation of Indigenous health researchers to pursue careers.
The award was developed by Professor Justine Mintern Associate Dean, Graduate Research, and Professor Diana Stojanovski, Deputy Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, and their working group, with advice from Professor Shawana Andrews, Associate Dean, Indigenous.
“At today’s MDHS Indigenous staff symposium we launched an important award that will bridge the gap between thesis submission and conferral for MDHS Indigenous PhD graduands. Established to support publication and other knowledge translation activity, this is a key part of the overall infrastructure required for Indigenous graduate researchers to transition to the next step in their careers.
The award announced today helps us grow the next generation of Indigenous health researchers and leaders who will contribute to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.” said Professor Shawana Andrews.
Professor Shawana Andrews, Associate Dean Indigenous, Professor Justine Mintern, Associate Dean Graduate Research and PhD Fellows, Kristy Meiselbach, Warwich Padgham and Ellie White.
“The working group identified that waiting for examiner outcomes after a thesis has been submitted is a vulnerable financial period for graduate researchers. This scholarship recognises this and provides financial support during this time ” said Professor Mintern.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students by descent, or who identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders and are accepted as such by the community in which they live or have lived are eligible to apply.
Students must have been enrolled in the Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and submitted their thesis for examination.
Applications are open. Learn more at https://scholarships.unimelb.edu.au/awards/narn-gon-ngarn-kula