Applications for Australia's largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health scholarship program have opened for 2026.

The Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship, established to honour the legacy of Dr Arnold "Puggy" Hunter, supports more than 100 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students each year to study entry-level health qualifications.

Dr Hunter was a respected Nyikina man who dedicated his life to addressing health inequity and empowering Indigenous communities through self-determination and community control.

Now in its 23rd year, the Scholarship provides up to $15,000 per annum to assist with expenses and cost of living.

The Scholarship aims to build a culturally strong, highly skilled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce that improves access and outcomes, especially in rural and remote communities.

Since 2024, the program has been administered through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community control, led by Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) and the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP), two national leads in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce development and support.

IAHA chief executive officer, Donna Murray, said the Scholarship invests in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from diverse backgrounds who want to carry forward the fight for health equity.

"It is a flexible and culturally responsive program helping our next generation of health workforce not only to aspire, but to thrive in their studies and beyond," the Wiradyuri and Wonnarua woman said.

The Scholarship's inaugural recipient, Emily Hunter, a Nyikina and Kokatha woman and daughter of "Puggy" Hunter, said receiving the scholarship gave her more than just financial support.

"It gave me belief in myself and a sense of purpose," she said.

"I'm now working as the after-hours Nurse at the Broome Hospital, giving back to my community, just like my father did, and building on this legacy."

Karl Briscoe, Kuku Yalanji man and NAATSIHWP chief executive officer said the Scholarship "plays a vital role in ensuring equitable access to education and supporting students to succeed as we build a strong, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led health workforce."

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health students who are currently studying or planning to enrol in a health degree in 2026 are encouraged to apply.

Applications are currently open until 31 October 2025.