Final year Aboriginal ANU medical student, Danielle Dries, has been awarded the MDA National and Rural Doctors Association of Australia Rural Health Bursary for 2016.

Ms Dries will use the bursary to do research around the Indigenous health curriculum across all health degrees in Australia.

"I have two main aims - one is to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health students, and the other is to ensure all Australian health graduates are culturally responsive practitioners," she said.

"By ensuring there is a good quality Indigenous health curriculum across all health degrees, including allied health and nursing, we will improve the health outcomes for our people. But it will also create a more culturally safe study and work environment, thereby further increasing the recruitment and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and health professionals." 

The bursary worth $7,000 was awarded to Ms Dries at the annual Rural Medicine Australia conference, held at Old Parliament House.

Ms Dries said it was a great honour to be recognised for her contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

"It was amazing to be able to stand up there with the other award winners, who are very inspiring doctors," she said.

"Along my journey I have come across so many incredible people who are kind and generous and I would not have been able to achieve the things that I have in the last four years without the support of many.

"I am very happy with what I have been able to achieve in such a short period of time. The opportunities are really endless and I look forward to the growth of more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health students."