The Albanese Labor Government today announced the recipients of the inaugural round of the First Nations Cancer Scholarships, which provides financial support to Indigenous postgraduate students engaged in cancer-related studies or research.
Funded through Cancer Australia and led by the Aurora Foundation, these scholarships are part of a $5.9 million, four-year commitment to expand the pipeline of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people actively involved in cancer policy making, research and care delivery.
Cancer is a key contributor to the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people being more likely to be diagnosed with cancer, more likely to die from cancer, and have a lower 5-year relative survival comparative.
Achieving equity in health outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australians is a key priority under the Australian Cancer Plan, which gives priority to support for community-led approaches to assisting First Nations people affected by cancer.
To this end, Cancer Australia partnered with the Aurora Foundation - an Indigenous organisation with a history of building successful Indigenous scholarship and education programs - to co-design, promote, administer and evaluate the scholarship program.
The first five recipients are extraordinary students from across the nation. Among the awardees, four will be undertaking Doctor of Medicine programs at various Australian universities.
These include:
· Balarnu, Waluwarra and Wangkayujuru man Brodie Seymour,
· Gundungurra woman Eden Slicer,
· Ngarkat woman Kayla Vitale, and
· Kasarina Mann, who is a descendant of the Kulburri-warra clan of the Kuku Yalanji, Guugu Yimidthirr, Yidnji and Barbarum nations.
The fifth recipient, Khwanruethai Ngampromwongse, who identifies as Wiradjuri and Ngemba Wayilwan, will embark on a PhD program at the Australian National University.
