Exciting Indigenous ‘workshop initiative’ scholarship for final year students

The Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) and The Fred Hollows Foundation are offering a final year optometry student an exciting ‘workforce initiative’ scholarship opportunity.

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students, as well as students interested in working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, are welcome to apply.

IUIH is a regional not-for-profit Community Controlled Health Service (CCHS) that leads the planning, development and delivery of health and family wellbeing services and employment pathways to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of South East Queensland.

The successful applicant will be provided with a student placement experience (minimum 4 weeks), a travel and accommodation support package, and the opportunity to attend relevant Australian conferences with financial support.

Scholarship details

The IUIH Eye Health Team deliver optometry and ophthalmology services to 16 Aboriginal Medical Centres within the urban setting of Southeast Queensland. This is a unique opportunity for a student to experience optometry embedded within holistic, culturally appropriate care.

The opportunity includes a minimum 4 weeks unpaid placement (20 business days), either as one block of 4 weeks, or two blocks of 2 weeks each, and placement dates need to be approved by IUIH and the successful students’ university.

A support package will be provided to the successful student which may be utilised to support travel costs, accomodation and living expenses (pending approval from IUIH and FHF).

The successful student will also be financially supported to attend at least one of the following national conferences:

• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference (NATSIEHC)
• Optometry Australia state conference
• Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) Conference

How to apply

Applicants must be in their final year of optometry studies (graduating in 2024).

Complete and submit this application form and return to IUIH Student Placement Coordinator at studentplacements@iuih.org.au by 11.59pm on Sunday, 17 December 2023. Attach a copy of your resume to your application – applications without a resume will not be accepted.

Shortlisted applicants will attend an interview with IUIH (in person or via Zoom). Please note students completing placement within the IUIH Network must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to commencing placement.

For more information, please visit https://www.iuih.org.au/, download the full scholarship details here or contact the IUIH Student Placement Coordinator at studentplacements@iuih.org.au.