Curtin University has launched a new scholarship to help more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students become doctors and grow Western Australia\u2019s Aboriginal medical workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Developed by Curtin Medical School<\/a>, the Moombaki Medicine Scholarship will provide financial support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying medicine for the duration of their degree, helping to reduce barriers to education and enabling them to focus on their goal of becoming a doctor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Moombaki is derived from the Noongar phrase meaning horizon or \u201cwhere the river meets the sky\u201d \u2014 symbolising connections, aspirations, and shared future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Curtin Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Professor Jonathan Bullen<\/a> said the Moombaki Medicine Scholarship would address community healthcare needs by investing in and growing the State\u2019s Aboriginal medical workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHelping more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students become doctors is vital to closing the health gap, strengthening culturally informed healthcare and inspiring more Aboriginal students to pursue medicine,\u201d Professor Bullen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to financial assistance, students will receive mentoring through the Aboriginal Health team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Curtin Medical School Aboriginal Health Director Louise Austen<\/a> said the Moombaki Medicine Scholarship reflected Curtin\u2019s commitment to equity initiatives and would improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctor retention and graduation rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCurtin believes that every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctor we train today becomes tomorrow's horizon where Country meets healing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe name Moombaki is especially meaningful as this scholarship looks towards a stronger future for Aboriginal medical students, doctors, and communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Professor Yvonne Anderson<\/a>, Dean and Head of Curtin Medical School, said the scholarship would help build a pipeline of medical practitioners for rural and remote regions and Aboriginal communities facing critical workforce shortages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese scholarships will make a meaningful contribution to the State\u2019s healthcare system at a time of growing demand for highly skilled, culturally aware practitioners, while enabling future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors to pursue their studies, stay focused on their goals and realise their dreams,\u201d Professor Anderson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First-year medical student Sanoe Barnes said the scholarship was a gamechanger that would help more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students view medicine as an achievable pathway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis scholarship provides more than financial support, it gives students the freedom to pursue their goals with stability,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Students who are entering the five-year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Entry Pathway are eligible to apply for the Moombaki Medical Scholarship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Interested applicants can find out more about the new scholarship by emailing scholarships@curtin.edu.au<\/a> phoning 1300 222 888 or visiting here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"New scholarship broadens horizon for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-scholarship-broadens-horizon-for-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-medical-students","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-08-12 10:05:20","post_modified_gmt":"2026-08-12 02:05:20","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/?post_type=media-release&p=31911","menu_order":0,"post_type":"media-release","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31797,"post_author":"4457","post_date":"2026-08-05 09:35:15","post_date_gmt":"2026-08-05 01:35:15","post_content":"\n Expanded access to Government financial support, additional public transport subsidies and more flexible assessment deadlines are among 12 recommendations in a new report<\/a> from the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Succes (ACSES<\/a>) on the challenges facing part-time students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Based on interviews with nearly 1000 students from diverse backgrounds at 35 Australian universities, the report highlights the extent to which part-time students are juggling competing responsibilities, such as caring and work commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It calls for special consideration policies including listing work and caring commitments as acceptable reasons for an assignment extension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other recommendations for universities and governments include Federally funded Youth Allowance, Austudy, and Tertiary Access Payments for part-time students and tax exemptions for scholarships and PhD stipends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Study author Associate Professor Kelly Linden, of Charles Sturt University, said the research showed part-time students needed more flexibility and support to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe participants demonstrated that, although they are incredibly dedicated to their studies, university cannot always be their number one priority,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith part-time students making up 35 per cent of all domestic Australian university students, it\u2019s time to start designing our universities for this growing cohort which is no longer a small minority on our campuses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report also calls for student load policies to be simplified so anyone studying 75 per cent of the Equivalent Full-Time Student Load across a calendar year has the same benefits as a full-time student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Associate Professor Linden said the report also highlighted the need for increased support for full-time students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll students should have access to no-questions-asked extensions,\u201d Associate Professor Linden said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStates provide free public transport to the football, yet part-time, on-campus students pay full fare to travel to university, and this is inequitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cState Governments should provide discounted public transport for all students studying on-campus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n ACSES Research and Policy Program Director Professor Ian Li<\/a> said the report was a timely reminder of the increasingly complex demands facing part-time students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis research shows part-time students on average have lower rates of success and retention than full-time students and are more likely to belong to an equity group,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt highlights the need for universities and State and Federal Governments to review their policies to ensure all students have adequate time to access high-quality learning and teaching.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n ACSES RECOMMENDATIONS<\/p>\n\n\n\n Universities to:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n State Governments to:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Government to:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Helping part-time students succeed in a full-time world<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>was funded through ACSES\u2019s nationally competitive Equity Fellowships program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can read the full report here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Part-time uni students need more support, ACSES research reveals","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"part-time-uni-students-need-more-support-acses-research-reveals","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-08-05 09:35:25","post_modified_gmt":"2026-08-05 01:35:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/?post_type=media-release&p=31797","menu_order":0,"post_type":"media-release","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31777,"post_author":"4457","post_date":"2026-08-03 10:31:29","post_date_gmt":"2026-08-03 02:31:29","post_content":"\n Five Curtin University researchers have been named 2026 Western Australian Young Tall Poppy Science Awards<\/a> winners for work spanning cancer diagnosis and recovery, children's mental health, affordable clean energy and biodiversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Presented by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science<\/a>, the Tall Poppy Science Awards<\/a> acknowledges outstanding early-career researchers who combine research excellence with a commitment to engaging the broader community with science in each state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Curtin\u2019s winners span a diverse range of research, including health (Dr Chloe Maxwell-Smith, Dr Elizabeth Hill and Dr Amelia Harray), environmental conservation (Dr Kit Prendergast) and sustainable energy (Dr Xiaomin Xu).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Curtin Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Melinda Fitzgerald<\/a> said this reflected the breadth of research excellence across the University and highlighted its strength in delivering research with the potential to improve lives and tackle major global challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCongratulations to Chloe, Xiaomin, Elizabeth, Amelia and Kit on this outstanding achievement,\u201d Professor Fitzgerald said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Young Tall Poppy Awards celebrate researchers who are not only producing world-class science, but who are also committed to sharing their knowledge and helping people understand why research matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhether they are improving cancer outcomes, making mental health care more accessible, advancing clean energy technologies or protecting biodiversity, these researchers are delivering real benefits for communities in Western Australia and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Curtin University 2026 WA Young Tall Poppy winners<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Dr Chloe Maxwell-Smith<\/strong><\/a>, Curtin School of Population Health<\/em> \u2022 Dr Xiaomin Xu<\/strong><\/a>, Curtin Centre for Advanced Energy Materials and Technologies\n
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Dr Maxwell-Smith\u2019s research is helping improve cancer outcomes by identifying why people delay screening or seeking medical help, particularly in regional communities, and by developing practical ways to help cancer survivors rebuild healthy routines and improve their quality of life after treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/em>Dr Xu develops low-cost materials for hydrogen production, carbon dioxide conversion and other clean energy technologies, with the aim of making sustainable fuels more affordable and accelerating Australia's transition to a net-zero economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n