Indigenous Program - The Williams Family Grant

Open for applications in March 2025 (dates to be confirmed)
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

    Please refer to the:
    - Learning and Development grant policy (PDF 496.34KB)
    - Grant guideline (PDF 176.42KB)

  • Who can apply?

    Applications are open to SET Trainees and RACS Fellows. It is preferable if applicants 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 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. 

  • 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 grant year (December 31st). All grant recipients will be required to provide an activity report at the end of the grant year outlining their progress against their proposal timeline.

  • Application requirements

    Your application is to include:
    - a submission of up to 1,000 words describing your aspirations, relevance to the current stage of training or medical career, breakdown of the proposed use of the funding and envisaged benefits to advancing the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

  • Selection and awarding
    Selection
    Selection is based upon:

    - your activity proposal including the expected outcomes and proposed costs of your activity
    - how your activity or study contributes to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

    The selection panel is comprised of:

    - Chair (or nominee), Scholarship & Grant Committee 
    - Chair (or nominee), Committee of Surgical Education and Training (CSET)
    - Chair (or nominee), Fellowships Services Committee
    - Censor in Chief (or nominee)

    Awarding
    - payment is made directly to the recipient by 1 March in the scholarship year (following receipt of a valid invoice)
  • To apply
    Application is 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 applications will not display on your dashboard until the Scholarships and Grants 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.

    Visit RACS Unlock
  • Contact
    Scholarship and grant team
    Email: [email protected]