2026 Spine Society of Australia 37th Annual Scientific Meeting17 - 19 April 2026 | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Please note: Early Career Scholarship applications have now closed. For further information, please contact the SSA 2026 Conference Secretariat. 

The Executive of the Spine Society is committed to making the Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting accessible to early career participants. To honour this commitment, the SSA is offering Scholarships for Australasian (Australia / NZ) Early Career ASM attendees. A total of $10,000 is being made available for scholarship. Funding for the scholarships is supported by SSA membership fees and profits from previous conferences. 

Scholarship Inclusions
Opportunity to participate in the leading conference on Spine related disorders in Australia and stay up to date with the latest industry products and services available. Applicants may apply to receive all or part funding for:

• Registration for the SSA 2026 conference
• Reimbursement for travel and accommodation

PLEASE NOTE: Funding up to $1,500 may be granted, per individual.

Accommodation and travel for successful applicants must be arranged by the individual and sent to the Conference Secretariat for reimbursement.

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to receive a conference scholarship for SSA 2026, candidates must:

• Fulfil one of the following eligibility criteria:

• Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree program, or
• Be currently enrolled in a masters by research, or a PhD, or
• Have been awarded a PhD within the previous five years and not be employed in a senior role at a medical or research institution / university (eg. Senior Lecturer, Research Fellow). Significant career interruption (eg. Maternity/parental leave, carer's responsibility, illness) will be taken into account where appropriate
• Provide an original written statement from their institution stating that other possible sources of funding have been applied for and institutional funding is not available (or state the funding that has been made available)
• Ensure the Recommendation Form is submitted by their employer, supervisor or academic instructor
• Complete the Application Form (Self-nomination Form) with signature – nominations by other parties will not be accepted
• Agree to have their name published as a scholarship recipient in the conference app and on the SSA website
• Agree to provide a written report (300 words) within 2 months of the conference on how their attendance at the conference has assisted in improving their knowledge, skills and service delivery

Prioritisation
Priority is given to those applicants:

• Who have been accepted for an oral presentation in the SSA 2026 Program
• Who have not previously received an ECR Scholarship
• Those presenting research relating to their MPhil by research, PhD or undergraduate degree.
• Whose participation will help enhance their own knowledge, skills and service delivery
• Who have a sound plan for disseminating and implementing the acquired knowledge

Application Procedure
Applicants are required to submit the following documents to ssaasm@dccam.com.au:

• Completed and signed Application Form
• Original written statement from employer or student body confirming other sources of funding have been applied for and no institutional funding is available
• Recommendation Form completed by an employer, supervisor or academic instructor

Applications will be reviewed by members of the SSA Conference Committee, who will make a final list of recommended successful applicants to the SSA Executive. 

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application shortly after submissions are closed. The decision of the review panel is final and no further discussions will be conducted.