The Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians (ACSEP) is proud to offer the Dr Geoff Thompson AM Rural/Regional Junior Doctor Scholarship to support an Australian regional/rural medical student or junior doctor with an interest in sport and exercise medicine, to attend the 2025 ACSEP Annual Scientific Conference on the Gold Coast, Australia.

The scholarship is offered in recognition of the significant contribution ACSEP Fellow Dr Geoff Thompson AM, has made to rural and remote medicine throughout his career. In addition to his work in Sport and Exercise Medicine, Dr Thompson AM has worked as a Flight Surgeon and Medical Officer for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and was responsible for overseeing the RAAF effort to evacuate Darwin following the devastation of Cyclone Tracy in 1974.

Since leaving the RAAF, Dr Thompson AM has been practicing in Darwin and Alice Springs and has devoted considerable time to performing general medical clinics in remote Indigenous communities, often using his own plane for transport. Dr Thompson AM was the NT State Recipient Australian of the Year 2020 and has previously been the Chief Medical Officer for the Australian Paralympic Committee.

This scholarship has been made possible through funding support from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care’s Specialist Training Program.

Eligibility

ACSEP welcomes applications from candidates who meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Prevocational medical practitioners or students currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) or equivalent, and
• Have a rural background in Australia of at least 12 months post-graduate medical work experience in a regional or rural area and/or completed at least 24 months of medical school training in a rural area and/or a minimum of 5 years attendance at a primary or secondary school in a regional or rural area (regional and rural areas are defined as Modified Monash Model 2-7 area); and
• Have an interest in pursuing a career in Sport and Exercise Medicine.

Scholarship inclusions

The Dr Geoffrey Thompson AM Rural/Regional Junior Doctor Scholarship will provide the recipient with complimentary registration to the ACSEP Registrar Conference and ACSEP Annual Scientific Conference (including the Welcome Function and Gala Dinner) held on the Gold Coast between 12-15 November 2025. Accommodation, flights, and transfer costs to attend the conference will also be covered up to a value of $2,500 AUD.

Please note: Any expenses beyond the $2,500 scholarship limit will need to be covered by the recipient.