Applications open for OQNT’s Rural Student Placement Scholarship

Optometry Queensland Northern Territory (OQNT) is committed to ensuring the next generation of optometrists have an interest in working in regional and remote communities.

In 2024, OQNT launched its inaugural Rural Student Placement Scholarship to support local optometry students to undertake a rural placement opportunity in either Queensland or the Northern Territory. OQNT is excited to continue the program in 2026. By encouraging and supporting students to undertake rural placements, OQNT hopes to help alleviate the current maldistribution of optometrists that favours metropolitan areas, increasing access to optometrists closer to home for rural residents.

Rural health care providers are crucial to improving the health and wellbeing of the over seven million people in rural and remote Australia. As highlighted by the National Rural Health Alliance’s Eye and Vision Health in Rural Australia, living in rural, remote, or regional Australia is associated with several poorer eye health outcomes, including preventable visual impairment. Furthermore, while approximately 90 per cent of vision loss is considered treatable or preventable, people living in rural Australia have reduced access to eye care compared with those living in metropolitan areas.

About the Scholarship

Up to four applicants will receive up to $3,000 AUD each to support a full-time placement for one week within either a private optometry practice or alongside an optometrist based in Queensland Health, in a MM 3 – MM 7 location in either Queensland or the Northern Territory. Funds are intended to support reasonable travel costs, such as flights and accommodation, and up to $50 per day for food.

Successful applicants are expected to provide a 400–500-word news article within 30 days of completing the placement, reviewing their experience and key lessons learned. This will be published on the Optometry Australia website and in the Snapshot newsletter, and potentially (with permission from the successful applicant) in other Optometry Australia newsletters and social media channels.

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be a financial OQNT member. Student membership to OQNT is free and gives immediate access to a range of other critical areas of support, including individual contract reviews with an expert optometrist advisor. It also provides access to an Optometry Australia starter kit, which is full of updated clinical resources to help with the initial weeks and months of working as an optometrist.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should closely review the detailed Rural Placement Scholarship Program terms and conditions here.

Applicants are then invited to provide a 400-word written application, detailing their interest in undertaking a rural placement and their anticipated key lessons learned. They should also provide:

• Details of their planned placement—including placement location and timing, to the extent that these details are known at the time of application.
• Their OQNT membership number.
• Preferred contact email address.
• Email and mobile telephone contact details for a minimum of two (2) referees.

Applications should be emailed to Sarah Case, OA’s Member Engagement Advisor at student@optometry.org.au by Friday 30 January 2026. Applicants will be advised of the outcomes in February 2026.*

*To allow for students wishing to undertake a placement in January/February 2026, up to two scholarships may be awarded in early December 2025. Students wishing to undertake these early placements must submit their application by Monday 24 November 2025.