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Dr Joan Faoagali Award

Foundations of Infection Prevention and Control Course Scholarship

The Dr Joan Faoagali Award recognises the significant and valuable contribution Joan made to infection prevention and control professionals and especially to members of ACIPC. The Dr Joan Faoagali Award allows an infection prevention and control practitioner to engage in ongoing learning through participation in the Foundations of Infection Prevention and Control course. One scholarship to the value of $1,520 is awarded to a member of the College each year.
Applications for 2026 open on Wednesday 1 April and close at 5PM on Friday 1 May 2026.

Award Rules

  • The award is open to individual financial members of the College
  • The award is open to members working in an IPC role for at least 12 months
  • The award is only open to members who are self-funded students
  • The award is not open to students whose workplace is paying the FIPC course fee
  • All applications are self-nominated to be completed by the applicant
  • The successful applicant will have been enrolled in a course starting from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026
  • Applications are reviewed by the Membership Engagement Committee
  • The decision of the Membership Engagement Committee is final

Application Process

  • The application form can be completed by clicking the Apply Here button
  • The application includes two questions (maximum 250 words each).
  • A current cover letter (maximum 2 pages).
  • A current brief CV highlighting your infection prevention and control involvement.
Apply Here

2025 Scholarship Winner

The winner of the 2025 Dr Joan Faoagali is Michael Ereck who has received a Foundations of Infection Prevention and Control Course scholarship. Read our interview with Michael here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Dr Joan Faoagali

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr Joan Faoagali made a significant contribution to the education of members of the College over many years with her involvement in both State and National Infection Prevention and Control activities. Joan showed great resilience, tremendous vision, and was a true leader inspiring all those whose lives she touched – working towards achieving something greater than themselves.

Joan’s passion and influence was key to the development of the ACIPC Foundations of Infection Prevention and Control Course. Joan, whilst battling her cancer made time to write and develop modules for the initial ACIPC Foundations of Infection Prevention and Control course.

Joan was well known in the Australian infection prevention and control community. Joan was particularly interested in the education of clinicians, the prudent use of antibiotics, infection control and the intelligent use of pathology services. Joan was a passionate teacher and service development advocate in both high-level referral centres in Australia and New Zealand and in developing countries including our pacific neighbours. After initially qualifying in Microbiology in Dunedin, Joan was Director of Microbiology at Christchurch Hospital in New Zealand and then the Royal Brisbane and Princess Alexandra Hospitals in Queensland. She held multiple adjunct academic appointments, including Griffith University, University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology. She will be remembered as a warm generous leader and mentor of students and senior colleagues alike.