A Heath Ledger Scholarship is being launched to help aspiring Australian actors follow in the late star's footsteps.

Australians in Film has established a fund, which it will present each year to a young up-and-coming performer with aspirations of Hollywood stardom.

Aussie Ledger died in January, aged just 28, after accidentally overdosing on prescription drugs at his New York apartment.

The organisation, founded in 2001 to support Australians in the movie and TV industries, has also announced actresses Abbie Cornish and Mia Wasikowska will be honoured at its fourth annual breakthrough awards at a Beverly Hills, California ceremony on 5 June.