The AOA AIDA ASM Bursary Program

AOA has created an ASM bursary for Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association (AIDA) members to encourage and facilitate attendance at AOA's flagship national Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students and doctors, particularly those with an interest in orthopaedics.


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The 85th AOA Annual Scientific Meeting, with the theme ‘Connection’, will take place at the Grand Chancellor in Hobart from 12 to 16 October 2025.

Two AIDA bursaries will provide full registration (four days) to the ASM, including the social cocktail function and is open to all AIDA members who meet the eligibility criteria. 

About AIDA
AIDA is a not-for-profit, member-based, professional association supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students and doctors.

'Our purpose is to contribute to equitable health and life outcomes and the cultural wellbeing of Indigenous people. We do this by working towards reaching population parity of Indigenous medical students and doctors and supporting a culturally safe healthcare system'. Find out more on the AIDA website.

What's included?

Successful applicants will have the opportunity to attend:
  • the 85th AOA Annual Scientific Meeting, over four days in Hobart
  • keynote and paper presentations
  • president's cocktail reception

What's covered?

  • Full costs of the conference registration, including social functions an approximate value of $320-$3,200 depending on the recipient's career stage. 
  • Economy return fights to Hobart from place of residence (excluding Hobart based applicants). 
  • Up to four night’s accommodation at a premium hotel in Hobart close to the conference.

Eligibility criteria

  • Applicants who are part-time or full-time employment capacity or medical students
  • Applicants who may be on parental leave
  • Applicants who have not received any other AOA bursaries or prizes in the last two years

Applicants are asked to provide brief supporting detail on their interest in the ASM and how their attendance will benefit them and their practice or career.

Applicants who meet all of the eligibility criteria are welcome to apply.

Application and selection

Applications should be submitted via the online form below by 1 June 2025.

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You will need to log in to access and complete the application form so that your application can be associated with your details in our database. Not a member and don’t yet have an account? Just click ‘create a non-member account’ on the login page.


Allocation of bursaries will be undertaken by a conference bursary panel which may include representatives of the Cultural Inclusion Working Group, AIDA and AOA head office allocated staff. The bursary panel will review: 

  • eligibility criteria
  • application response/input
  • the aim to support emerging Indigenous doctors from various geographical areas and career stages.

Applicants are advised to discuss their attendance at the conference with their relevant employers and supervisors.

Timing

The proposed timing is set as follows: 

  • Bursary applications open 1 May 2025 
  • Bursary applications close 1 June 2025

A decision will be made and successful recipients will be notified by 30 June 2025.

It is not possible to provide feedback on applications, and no correspondence regarding decisions on applications will be entered into.

If you have any questions, please contact susie.obeid@aoa.org.au.