Awards
Outstanding First Nations Researcher Medal
The Academy’s Outstanding First Nations Researcher Medal is awarded annually to an outstanding mid-career researcher of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, who is an emerging research leader working and making an impactful contribution in the health and medical sciences in Australia.
The Medal recognises outstanding researchers and provides them with assistance to expand their research networks and to participate in international knowledge exchange by supporting travel nationally or internationally to visit relevant research centres.
Outstanding First Nations Researcher Medal
Criteria
Nominations are welcome from all fields associated with furthering biomedical and health research, whether clinical, public health, basic biomedical or social sciences research, and relevant areas of the humanities, such as bioethics. Candidates do not necessarily need to be working on research that has a First Nations focus.
The recipient will be a postdoctoral researcher within 12 years of achieving their PhD (or equivalent first research higher degree) inclusive, at the time of nomination.
Consideration will be given to individuals whose career has been interrupted, delayed or otherwise constrained through reasons including, but not limited to illness, child bearing, child caring or other caring responsibilities. Other disruptions resulting from professional development or training, such as clinical load, would not be considered under this definition.
We recognise that where individuals are working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities, there is a time commitment involved in building and maintaining those relationships, accountabilities and other protocols that may be necessary. This may affect an individual’s research outputs, and candidates should note where this is the case to ensure that the selection committee are aware of this important consideration.
The Outstanding First Nations Researcher Medal is the Academy’s third honorific award, launched in 2023, and awarded for the first time in 2024 to Professor James Ward. The medal is awarded at the AAHMS’s annual meeting each October.
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Outstanding First Nations Researcher Medal
Key dates
PREVIOUS AWARDEES
Outstanding First Nations Researcher Medalists
Professor Ray Lovett
Indigenous epidemiologist, Professor Ray Lovett has been awarded the 2025 Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Outstanding First Nations Researcher Medal.
Professor Lovett’s team’s groundbreaking research through the Mayi Kuwayu Study shows how culture protects health and wellbeing, revealing that eliminating everyday racial discrimination could close half of the gap in high psychological distress.
Professor James Ward
Professor James Ward FAHMS, a Pitjantjatjara and Narungga man, was awarded the 2024 medal in a ceremony in Adelaide. His groundbreaking work has made a difference to adolescent health outcomes in the areas of sexual health, HIV, and alcohol and other drugs through programs, research, community-led interventions, and advocacy.
“The use of the star design in my works references the ongoing existence of our people since time immemorial. It is like a time-traveller, a guide that sees the passage of time and the manifestation of life.”
Artist Teho Ropeyarn
Designer of the Outstanding First Nations Researcher Medal
ABOUT
Outstanding First Nations Researcher Medal
The medal was designed using the work of Teho Ropeyarn, an artist and curator from Injinoo, Cape York Peninsula. Teho Ropeyarn is descended from the Angkamuthi and Yadhaykana clans from Injinoo on the mainland; Badu, Moa and Murray Island in the Torres Strait; Woppaburra people (Great Keppel Island) and Batchulla people (Fraser Island). His practice is focused on his father’s people’s heritage.
The design element of the medal comes from the artist’s work, Unggoonggu (star).
The Angkamuthi dialect of north-western Cape York, unggoonggu (oong-goon-goo) is the language name for stars.
The Outstanding First Nations Researcher Medal has been made possible by a generous donation by the Gandevia Foundation.
Outstanding First Nations Researcher Medal
How to nominate
Nominations open in October each year and all paperwork must be submitted by 1 March the following year.
To nominate, please read the nomination guidelines below and email the secretariat ([email protected]) with the name of the intended candidate, their current email address, position and institution to begin the process.
Individuals must be nominated: they cannot self-nominate. Nominators and nominees do not need to be AAHMS Fellows.
