Country Medical Foundation Scholarship * [F23735]

An asterisk (*) indicates that this scholarship is governed by conditions. This scholarship is governed by the General Conditions for Scholarships for Coursework Students except as set out in the conditions that follow.

The Country Medical Foundation has donated a sum of $200,000 to establish a fund to provide two scholarships annually to assist and encourage students who are experiencing financial hardship and who demonstrate a commitment to undertaking a career in rural/regional medicine in Western Australia to complete the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree course at The University of Western Australia (the University). The scholarships are established in recognition of the role played by the Country Medical Foundation in fostering improved health care services in country Western Australia. The scholarships are administered in accordance with the following conditions.

Title
1. The scholarship is called the Country Medical Foundation Scholarship.

Purpose 
2. The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage and assist students who are experiencing financial hardship and who demonstrate a commitment to undertaking a career in rural/regional medicine in Western Australia to complete the degree course for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the University with a view to undertaking a career in rural/regional medicine in Western Australia.

Number and Value
3. (1) The annual value of the scholarship is $5000.

(2) The value is CPI indexed every five years.

Eligibility Requirements
4. To be eligible for consideration for a scholarship an applicant must—

(a) be enrolled in the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree course at the University;

(b) be able to demonstrate a commitment to a future career in Western Australian rural/regional medicine; and

(c) be able to demonstrate financial hardship.

Selection Criteria
5. (1) The scholarship is awarded to the applicant who, in the opinion of the selection committee, best demonstrates through their application and supporting documentation a commitment to a future career in Western Australian rural/regional medicine; and financial hardship.

(2) A commitment to a future career in Western Australian rural/regional medicine may be demonstrated by the applicant through one or more of the following:

(a) enrolment in the rural and remote medicine specialisation programme;

(b) enrolment in one or more units in rural and remote medicine;

(c) enrolment in or application for the enrolment in the Rural Clinical School;

(d) membership of the SPINRPHEX Rural Health Club (attending three or more meetings per year);

(e) active involvement in country community service.

(3) Financial hardship may be demonstrated by the applicant by—

(a) being in receipt of a means tested Commonwealth income support payment (such as Austudy, Abstudy, Youth Allowance etc.); or

(b) submitting a statement of financial hardship. This statement must be supported by a Statutory Declaration.

Body Responsible for Selection
6. The selection committee for the scholarship comprises—

(a) the Head of the Rural Clinical School (RCS) or the Head of the School of Primary, Aboriginal and Rural Health Care (SPARHC), or nominee;

(b) the Manager (Student Affairs) of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, or nominee; and

(c) a representative of rural or remote local government appointed by the WA Local Government Association (WALGA).

Selection Process
7. Selection of the recipient is made by the selection committee having regard to the applicants' completed application forms and supporting documentation.

Application Procedure
8. (1) Written applications are called for annually by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, and must be submitted to the Manager (Student Affairs) of the Faculty by the advertised closing date.

(2) Applications must include supporting documentation as outlined in 5 and include a 500 to 700 word document detailing the applicant's commitment to a career in rural/regional medicine.

Awarding Body
9. The scholarship is awarded by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences on the recommendation of the selection committee.

Method of Payment
10. The scholarship is paid in one instalment on or following the census date in the first semester.

Duration of Award
11. (1) The scholarship is tenable for one year.

(2) Consecutive applications may be approved, however first time applicants will be given priority.

Concurrent Awards
12. (1) Subject to (2), the scholarship may be held concurrently with another external or University award provided that the conditions of the concurrent award so permit.

(2) Recipients of the Rural Australia Medical Undergraduate Scholarship (RAMUS); or the Medical Rural Bonded (MRB) Scholarship are not permitted to hold the Country Medical Foundation Scholarship.

Criteria for Continuation
13. The scholarship is conditional upon the recipient remaining enrolled in the course for the year in which the scholarship is awarded.

Administering Body
14. The scholarship is administered by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.

Publications
15. Any thesis, dissertation or other publication resulting from research undertaken by the recipient while in receipt of the Country Medical Foundation Scholarship must acknowledge the support of the scholarship and carry the University by-line.

Intellectual Property
16. Intellectual property is governed by the University's Intellectual Property policy available on the University's web site at http://www.universitypolicies.uwa.edu.au/page/117132.