Ian O'Rourke Scholarship
Are you passionate about improving Aboriginal patient safety?
Applications are now open until 8 March 2026
If you have any questions about your application, contact our Knowledge team on CEC-Knowledge@health.nsw.gov.au. You can request a callback if you'd prefer to talk to someone.
Providing culturally safe and appropriate care is central to supporting the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Ian O'Rourke Scholarship aims to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals to strengthen culturally safe care across the state.
The scholarship focuses on strengthening culturally safe care that respects Aboriginal identity and values and supports a healthcare system where Aboriginal people feel safe, heard and empowered.
Scholarships of up to $10,000 each are available to help you accelerate your leadership in Aboriginal patient safety and support your professional development.
About the scholarship
The Ian O'Rourke Scholarship provides NSW Health employees who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander with up to $10,000 to support:
- study
- research
- leadership courses
- conferences
- workplace projects
that help you contribute to safer, more culturally appropriate care for Aboriginal people in NSW.
"Aboriginal patient safety is about more than individual interactions, it's about strengthening systems, leadership and cultural safety across our health services. The Ian O'Rourke Scholarship supports Aboriginal staff to lead this work in ways that are grounded in culture, community and lived experience."
Caron Shaw, Principal Aboriginal Clinical Safety and Cultural Advisor.
Webinars will be held in February 2026 for further information and questions:
- Register for the webinar on 13 February 2026, 9:30am - 10:30am
- Register for the webinar on 16 February 2026, 6pm - 7pm.
Scholarship applications open 9am Monday 2 February 2026
Applications close 11:59pm Sunday 8 March 2026
All candidates notified of the outcome by Tuesday 30 June 2026
Applicants must be NSW Health employees who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and provide Confirmation of Aboriginality. Support from line managers and executive sponsors is required for workplace projects.
As part of the application process, applicants must complete an application form and provide:
- personal details
- confirmation of Aboriginality
- employment information
- responses to key scholarship questions, and
- workplace project approvals (if relevant).
Prior to starting my application, I have:
- read the scholarship guidelines and conditions
- checked that I am eligible to apply for the scholarship
- marked all key dates in my diary
- collected evidence to confirm my Aboriginality
- considered the key scholarship questions.
A panel of Aboriginal members reviews applications based on interest in Aboriginal patient safety, alignment with scholarship goals, and professional development objectives; shortlisted candidates may be interviewed.
Contacts and links
Questions and queries can be directed to CEC-Knowledge@health.nsw.gov.au – let us know if you would like to speak to an Aboriginal staff member when you enquire.
For further information, please refer to: