Ida West Aboriginal Health Scholarships support future Tasmanian Indigenous health professionals

Callan Morse Published June 5, 2023 at 12.30pm (AWST)

health

The awards pay tribute to the late Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder Aunty Ida West, a revered social justice campaigner and longtime Indigenous health service advocate. (Image: ABC)

Five Tasmanian Indigenous students have received an Ida West Aboriginal Health Scholarship to support their studies as they work towards a career in the Tasmanian healthcare system.

Established in 2004, the scholarships provide funding to support Indigenous students across study areas of nursing, psychology, medicine, social work, counselling, paramedicine and community service.

The scholarships pay tribute the work and life of respected Aboriginal Elder, Aunty Ida OAM, who passed away in 2003.

The Aboriginal matriarch is recognised as a generous contributor and tireless worker within the Aboriginal community, including for the significant contribution she made to social justice and reconciliation, not only in Tasmania but at a national level.

For her lifelong work Aunty Ida was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 for services to social welfare, justice and reconciliation, before being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia the following year for service as a leader of the Aboriginal community in Tasmania.

Tasmanian Premier and Minister for Health Jeremy Rockliff said the scholarships named in Aunty Ida's honour help address the under-representation of Aboriginal people working across health and human services, as well as foster greater cultural respect and understanding in health settings.

"We are proud to support this important scholarship which allows Aboriginal students to focus on their studies, as they work towards a career in health,'' Minister Rockliff said.

"Not only does this program support students to achieve their study goals, but it also continues to honour the life and legacy of Aunty Ida through celebrating the awarding of the scholarships in her name."

The scholarships provide a maximum of $5,000 per annum to each recipient, capped at $15,000 per scholarship.

Since the scholarship's introduction in 2004, there have been 31 Ida West Aboriginal Health Scholarship recipients.

2023 Ida West Aboriginal Health Scholarship recipients

Jaimi-Lee Armstrong

Jackson Corona

Nicole Fisher

Emily Wood

Sarah Kubank