Jobs in health
Whether you like working behind the scenes or love face-to-face contact with the public, there’s a job to suit you.
If you are interested in a job in medicine, nursing, midwifery, allied health or Indigenous health, these organisations can help you:
- Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA)
- Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM)
- Indigenous Allied Health Australia
- National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP).
It’s never too late for a health career change
Experienced people who understand Indigenous cultures and communities are always in demand. Past work experience can count towards your qualifications. This can make training much quicker and easier.
Find out more about a career in health by:
- searching for health sector jobs on HealthInfoNet and JobSearch
- learning about education and training pathways for various health careers.
Training to work in health
You can take several training pathways to work in health:
- Completing an apprenticeship or traineeship. Apprenticeships let you gain a recognised qualification while earning an income. Traineeship can include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker or Practitioner.
- Taking Vocational and Education Training (VET). This mixes classroom teaching through TAFEs and Registered Training Organisations with practical on-the-job training.
- Studying at university. You can study for a specific occupation such as doctor, nurse or allied health for example physiotherapist. Or you can take a more general course, such as a science degree.
Scholarships for health studies
The Australian Government helps fund scholarship programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to:
- encourage and assist students to start studying, complete their studies and join the health workforce
- support health professionals with continuing professional development and postgraduate studies.
HealthInfoNet lists available scholarships.
We fund, or contribute funding to, the following scholarship schemes.
Scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying pharmacy.
Indigenous Health Scholarship Program
The Indigenous Health Scholarship Program (IHSP) supports Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students pursuing health-related tertiary qualifications.
The program provides $5,000 per year to help cover everyday study costs. This includes expenses like stationery, textbooks, and other learning materials.
The IHSP also provides culturally responsive support to successful applicants to increase their likelihood of completing their qualification.
In late 2025, the management of the IHSP officially transitioned to a First Nations-led organisation - Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA).
The scholarships are funded by the Australian Government.
Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives – scholarship opportunities
The Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives - scholarship opportunities are for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying nursing.
Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation Scholarships
The Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation Scholarships is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying nursing.
Primary Care Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Program
The Primary Care Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Program is for registered nurses and midwives to undertake postgraduate study with a preference given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those who live and work in regional, rural or remote Australia, especially MM 3 and MM 7 areas.
Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme
The Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme (PHMSS) provides assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander undergraduate students studying health-related-disciplines. Qualifications must be at a university, Higher Education Provider, TAFE, or with a Registered Training Organisation.
The PHMSS $15,000 per annum (full time) for the normal duration of the course to access financial, cultural, mentoring, and other supports for students studying in health.
The PHMSS transitioned to a First Nations-led organisation Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA), effective 1 July 2024. IAHA lead management of the PHMSS with support from the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP) and Rural Doctors Network (RDN).
The scholarships are funded by the Australian Government.
Scholarships for the rural health workforce
Australian Rotary Health Rural Medical Scholarships
The Australian Rotary Health Rural Medical Scholarships support medical students to complete a year at a Rural Clinical School. The aim is to encourage students to practice medicine in rural Australia.
Australian Rotary Health Rural Nursing Scholarships
The Australian Rotary Health Rural Nursing Scholarships support nursing students to complete their major clinical placement and graduating year in a rural or remote area. The aim is to encourage students to pursue a nursing career in rural Australia.
Health Workforce Scholarship Program
The Health Workforce Scholarship Program supports the cost of completing primary health care postgraduate and short courses for professionals working in specific settings. The program:
- aims to increase access to health services in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia
- provides scholarships and bursaries to existing health professionals committed to rural service
- provides funding to attend accredited industry conferences and vocational education and training courses.
The program is open to those providing primary health care in:
- the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services sector
- non-government organisations
- private practice.
Indigenous Allied Health Australia – Clinical Placement Scholarships
The Clinical Placement Scholarships IAHA supports remote and rural clinical placements and extend students’ and graduates’ learning experiences to explore allied health career pathways and opportunities in remote and rural Australia.
Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships Program
The Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships Program assists rural and regional students with the cost of studying in any discipline.
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