Medical Students' Aid Project

What Medical Students' Aid Project does

Medical Students' Aid Project (MSAP) is a student-run, Sydney-based not-for-profit humanitarian organization founded in 2001 by Associate Professor Greg Fox upon his return from an elective in Malawi. Headquartered at the UNSW Medicine Faculty, MSAP is the global health group of the UNSW Medical Society and an official member of the Australian Medical Students' Association (AMSA) Global Health Committee. The organization engages medical and other university students across New South Wales through educational events, fundraising, and advocacy, with a mission of contributing to healthcare equity via education, advocacy, and collaboration.

MSAP operates a portfolio of programs spanning elective aid, nutrition supplementation, maternal health, sanitation, and refugee advocacy. Its core offerings include the Elective Aid Program (grants up to A$2,000 to fifth-year UNSW medical students for medical supplies during Global South electives), the Food for Thought nutrition and health-education program currently supporting 180 children at Seem Shala Jibhaipura school in Nadiad, Gujarat, Birthing Kit Nights held with Birthing Kit Foundation Australia, the Global Health Short Course attracting 200+ attendees annually, the Rural Elective Aid Program (REAP) developed during COVID-19 as a domestic alternative, the Crossing Borders refugee advocacy stream, and the Gandhi Girls Sanitation Project which constructed 12 new flushing toilets at a rural Indian girls' boarding school. The technology footprint is negligible: MSAP distributes and operates through Squarespace-hosted web properties, organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), and a monthly newsletter, with no proprietary software products, apps, or APIs.

The revenue model is exclusively donations and sponsorships, with the stated policy that 100% of donations received go directly to running MSAP's projects. Funding sources include individual donors, grassroots fundraising events such as Bunnings BBQs, in-kind and brand-deal sponsors (Lecturio, Elizabeth's Bookshops, 8BitDo, Fresh Promotions), and strategic partners (AMSA, Birthing Kit Foundation Australia, Santram Eye Hospital, local businesses in Nadiad). Operations are staffed by an annually elected volunteer executive team (a 2025 team of approximately 17 named officers) with no paid headcount, and no subsidiaries, parent company, funding rounds, or acquisitions are disclosed.

Name

Medical Students' Aid Project

Legal name

Medical Students' Aid Project

Website

https://msap.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Medical Students' Aid Project is a student-run UNSW-affiliated not-for-profit that engages Australian medical students in global health equity through elective grants, nutrition and sanitation programs in rural India, refugee advocacy, and maternal health initiatives, funded by donations and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAJAKAH

Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

SECONDARYHLAJALAG

Maternal, Child & Family Health Program Funding

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Public Health Funding, Grants & Program Administration

SECONDARYEDALAFAH

Nutrition & Dietetics Services

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Student Health, Counseling & Wellness Services

Keywords

• Global health education
• Humanitarian programs
• Student volunteer initiatives
• Medical elective grants
• Community health advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: 100% of donations received go towards running MSAP's projects. The organization receives sponsorship from brand partners and in-kind donors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MSAP is a student-run not-for-profit humanitarian organization that delivers global health education, advocacy, and field projects through UNSW medical students. Its core offerings include monetary grants (up to $2,000 AUD) to fifth-year UNSW medical students for medical elective placements in the Global South (Elective Aid Program and Rural Elective Aid Program), the Food for Thought nutrition supplementation program for 180 children at a rural Indian school, Birthing Kit Nights, the Global Health Short Course, and refugee/climate health advocacy events.

Product overview

Medical Students' Aid Project (MSAP) is a student-run not-for-profit organization that operates multiple humanitarian programs focused on global health equity. The core programs include the Elective Aid Program providing grants to medical students, Food for Thought addressing child malnutrition in rural India, and Birthing Kit Night supporting maternal health. MSAP also runs educational initiatives like the Global Health Short Course, advocacy programs including Crossing Borders refugee support, and fundraising events such as Bunnings BBQs and Treevia Night. These programs engage medical students in healthcare equity through education, advocacy, and collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Elective Aid Program Annual monetary grants (up to $2,000 AUD) provided to fifth-year UNSW medical students to fund health resources and medical equipment for their placement electives in Global South regions. The program ships donated medical supplies to Global South locations visited by elective students.
• Food for Thought (FFT) Nutrition supplementation program providing daytime meals three times a week for 180 children at Seem Shala Jibhaipura school near Nadiad, Gujarat, India, along with health education videos, eye checks with Santram Eye Hospital, and sanitation improvements.
• Rural Elective Aid Program (REAP) Alternative to the International Elective Aid Program, partnering with medical students undertaking rural and regional placements to donate medical equipment and resources to such centres.
• Birthing Kit Night Event held in conjunction with Birthing Kit Foundation Australia where participants pack birthing kits to help prevent mothers in Global South from giving birth in unsanitary conditions.
• Global Health Short Course Annual educational lecture series empowering students to take their first steps in global health initiatives, featuring esteemed speakers sharing knowledge on different areas of global health. Attracts 200+ attendees from UNSW and other universities.
• Gandhi Girls Sanitation Project Project to construct new flushing toilets at a girls' boarding school in rural India to improve sanitation and incentivize education. 12 new toilets were constructed at the boarding school.
• Crossing Borders Events Advocacy events supporting refugee health, including banner-making nights and participation in rallies and marches in solidarity with asylum seekers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 32% increase in school enrollments at Food for Thought project schools
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AMSA (Australian Medical Students' Association) Global Health CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSAP is an official member of the AMSA Global Health Committee. This partnership provides organizational legitimacy, networking opportunities, and access to a broader network of medical students across Australia for events and initiatives.
• Birthing Kit Foundation AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSAP holds Birthing Kit Nights in conjunction with Birthing Kit Foundation Australia. Participants pack birthing kits to help prevent mothers in Global South from giving birth in unsanitary conditions.
• Santram Eye HospitalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration for the Food for Thought project to provide eye checks for students at Seem Shala Jibhaipura. 7 children received glasses through this partnership.
• LecturiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand deal partner - all-in-one study resource for medical students. Provides promotional support and two-week trial offers for MSAP members.
• Elizabeth's BookshopsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind sponsor - one of Australia's largest second-hand bookshop operations with 3 shops. Supports MSAP through promotional activities.
• 8BitDominorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind sponsor - innovative technology company specializing in gaming peripherals. Provides sponsorship support for MSAP events.
• Fresh PromotionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind sponsor - Australia's largest online promotional products range with over 10,000 items. Provides promotional merchandise for MSAP events.
• Local Businesses in Nadiad, GujaratminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal businesses donate liquid soap on a monthly basis for the Food for Thought project children to use before meals.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Partners In Health: Major global health NFP providing health care in resource-limited settings globally; a broader incumbent operating at much larger scale in the same mission space as MSAP (healthcare equity in the Global South, nutrition, maternal health).
• Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Australia: International medical humanitarian organization with an active Australian office; broadly comparable as a global health NFP engaging medical professionals around humanitarian response, though operating at vastly larger scale than MSAP.

Emerging players

• Unite For Sight: Nonprofit mobilizing university students and professionals to support eye care delivery in developing countries; comparable to MSAP in engaging students around specific health interventions (eye care) in low-resource settings, with a similar education-advocacy-program structure.
• Global Brigades: Student-led global NFP operating health, water, and education brigades in underserved communities; comparable to MSAP's combination of student volunteer mobilization, in-country community health projects, and partnership-driven humanitarian work.

Direct peers

• Global Health Corps: International organization placing young professionals in global health roles; comparable to MSAP in mobilizing early-career talent for health equity work and emphasizing youth-led leadership development in the global health sector.
• Birthing Kit Foundation Australia: Australia-based NFP focused on maternal health in the Global South; MSAP's Birthing Kit Night program is run in direct partnership with this organization. Highly comparable as a fellow Australian humanitarian NFP addressing global maternal/child health with volunteer-driven programming.
• Australian Medical Students' Association (AMSA) Global Health: National peak body representing Australian medical students; MSAP is a member of AMSA's Global Health Committee. Directly comparable as a student-led global health advocacy and education network operating across Australian universities.
• Timmy Global Health (now TimmyCare): Originally a student-founded NFP sending medical professionals to provide care in low-resource settings; closely comparable to MSAP's Elective Aid Program model of supporting student electives in the Global South.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/msapfb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/msapunsw
• Instagraminstagram.com/msap_unsw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Medical Students' Aid Project