Indigenous Program - The Williams Family Grant

Open for applications from 3 March to 14 April 2025

Value: AUD $15,000

The Williams Family Grant supports educational opportunities or research which focuses on health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The grant was established by Mr John (Tony) Williams and Dr Anne Sved Williams to contribute to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

RACS and the Indigenous Health Committee are committed to increasing the participation of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori doctors in a surgical career by providing education, training and research opportunities. By prioritising Indigenous health, building the surgical workforce and increasing services, we can better meet the health needs of Māori, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

  • Policy and guideline

    Before applying, please refer to the:
    - Learning and Development grant policy (PDF 288.7KB)
    - Williams Family grant guideline (PDF 144.01KB)

  • Activity

    The grant may fund an activity or a field of study to advance the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. These costs may include but are not limited to education costs, postgraduate studies, course fees, research projects, mentoring programs, travel and accommodation expenses, studies into diseases that are of particular relevance to the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and delivery of surgical services to an indigenous community.

    The activity for which funding is being sought must commence after the grant application closing date but prior to the end of the following year (the grant year). 

  • Who can apply?

    To be eligible to apply for this grant you must be one of the following:
    - RACS Fellow
    - SET Trainee

    AND 

    - have demonstrable links to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community and have the intention to work in, or regularly visit, a rural indigenous community. 

    Preference will be given to those applicants who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are eligible to be a member of the Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association (AIDA). Preference will also be given to applicants wishing to use the grant to contribute toward attaining a Master's degree or PhD. 

  • Application requirements

    Your application is to include:
    - a summary of up to 1,000 words describing your activity
    - activity dates and budget
    - a summary of your career aspirations, relevance of the activity to your career aspirations and current stage of training or medical career,
    - envisaged benefits to advancing the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
    - a letter/s of support from the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community to which you are affiliated (letters of support from AIDA will also be accepted).

  • Selection and payment
    Selection
    Written applications will be reviewed by members of the Indigenous Health Committee and may include other committee members or invited representatives. Selection is based on your activity proposal including the expected outcomes and proposed costs of your activity and how your activity or study contributes to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

    Payment
    Payment is made directly to the recipient in one instalment by 1 March in the grant year (following receipt of a valid invoice which will be requested by the Scholarships and Grants Team).
  • Recipient obligations

    All grant recipients will be required to provide an activity report at the end of the grant year when requested by the Scholarships and Grants Team.

  • To apply
    Applications are submitted via the Scholarships and Grants Program online platform, RACS Unlock, hosted by Survey Monkey Apply.

    You may register as an applicant on RACS Unlock at any time, however you will be unable to apply until the Learning and Development Program application opening date. There is no need to re-register if you already have a RACS Unlock registration.

    Please note: emailed applications are not accepted.
  • Contact
    Scholarships and Grants Team
    Email: [email protected]