For students receiving scholarship through the Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme (PHMSS), the opportunity to pursue a career in health is more than a personal goal — it’s a continuation of a legacy. Now led by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation, the scholarship is helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students thrive in their studies and connect with culturally safe support systems.
Caleb is an Iman man with family connections to the Gooreng Gooreng people and one of 483 students who transitioned with the Puggy Hunter Memorial scholarship in the 2024.
In 2025, he is graduating with a Bachelor of Oral Health. This is one of a diverse range of qualifications, including primary care, allied health, dentistry, medicine, mental health, and nursing being undertaken by PHMSS recipients.
Caleb was inspired by a desire to improve health and wellbeing outcomes with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities and to follow in the footsteps of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders who have driven change.
“Receiving the scholarship meant a lot, it was recognition of my hard work today and that I am on the path I needed to go on. As a student, it’s not only helped me succeed in my studies by relieving some of the financial pressures of unpaid placements, but it’s enabled me to be more connected with peers through Indigenous Allied Health Australia and the Indigenous Dental Association of Australia” he said.
A major milestone for the Puggy Hunter scholarship program came in 2024, when it transitioned fully to community control. Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA), in partnership with the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Rural Doctors Network, took over administration of the program. Under their leadership, 119 new scholarships were awarded to recipients across Australian in the 2025 scholarship round.
The PHMSS was established to honour Dr Arnold “Puggy” Hunter, a Nyikina man and the inaugural Chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. For over 20 years, the scholarship was administered by a non-Indigenous organisation. Its transition to community control marks a significant shift, aligning with the principles of self-determination and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership.
IAHA Director Kimberley Hunter, niece of Dr Puggy Hunter, reflected on the significance of the scholarship and the man after which it’s named:
"As far as role models in health go, I would have to say, my late uncle. Many of us may have been fortunate enough to receive a scholarship in his name, but sadly not everyone knows his story. As one of the most influential Aboriginal men of our time, my uncle Puggy was a fierce grassroots leader who took community calls for change to the highest levels of government and made significant changes to the health policy landscape. He fought uncompromisingly until his last breath, and even still, his legacy lives on through the opportunities his scholarship continues to create for our mob."
IAHA’s connection to Puggy Hunter’s legacy is both personal and professional. The organisation, alongside its consortium partners, is committed to delivering a culturally safe and responsive scholarship program that reflects Puggy’s passion for health equity and community-led change.
Donna Murray, Chief Executive Officer of IAHA, said that the Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship invests in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from diverse backgrounds, who want to carry forward the fight for health equity.
“It is a flexible and culturally responsive program helping our future health workforce not only to aspire but to thrive, both in their studies and beyond, and we’re honoured to care for this program named in honour of such an important leader," she said.
The transition has already delivered tangible benefits. The 2025 round awarded 119 scholarships, and within the first week of the 2026 round, 47 applications were received, growing to over 400 applications by the time the 2026 round closed — a strong sign of the program’s reach and relevance. With Australian Government support, the program is exceeding its expectations and expanding mentoring and wellbeing supports for students.
The PHMSS continues to honour Dr Puggy Hunter’s legacy by investing in the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals. Through culturally responsive administration and strong community leadership, the program is not only supporting students financially but also nurturing their social, emotional and cultural wellbeing. As Kimberley Hunter said, “his legacy lives on through the opportunities his scholarship continues to create for our mob.”
The Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme contributes to Outcome 6 – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students reach their full potential through further education pathways and Outcome 14 – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enjoy high levels of social and emotional wellbeing.
Find out more about the Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme here: Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Puggy Hunter scholar Caleb