In partnership with Victoria's Chief Mental Health Nurse, the Department of Health is providing 140 Full Course Fee Postgraduate Mental Health Nurse scholarships to mental health nurses employed (or commencing employment) in Victorian public mental health services to obtain their postgraduate qualifications to become a mental health nurse.
This round of scholarships is offered for nurses enrolled in an eligible course in Semester 2, 2026 and/or Semester 1, 2027.
Purpose and scope
The department is implementing all recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, including recommendation 7 of the interim report, which required 140 postgraduate nursing scholarships to be awarded annually.
The scholarship covers the full cost of eligible course tuition fees*, up to the value of a Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing (capped at $23,000 per scholarship recipient), for successful applicants undertaking of one of a:
- Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing or
- Master of Mental Health Nursing.
* This includes the gap if you are enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
This initiative aims to:
- incentivise and support nurses to undertake specialist mental health qualifications
- help build Victoria's mental health nurses' skills, knowledge, and capabilities to deliver high quality, evidence-based and consumer-centred care.
Scholarships are paid directly to individual recipients, not their employers, the education provider or the Australian Taxation Office.
To promote a diverse workforce as envisioned by the Royal Commission and Victoria’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy 2021-2024, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTIQA+, workers with disabilities and culturally diverse workers are strongly encouraged to apply. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants will be given additional weighting in the application process. This is to assist in promoting a diverse workforce as recommended by the Royal Commission.
Find out more about the other mental health nurse scholarships and grants included in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Scholarship Program.
Guidelines
Updated