The Department of Health is offering scholarships to nurses and midwives in public health services undertaking eligible postgraduate studies in 2023 and 2024.
This initiative aims to build workforce capability through upskilling and developing the next generation of nurses and midwives.
Overview
Nursing and midwifery postgraduate scholarships are provided to public health services to support registered nurses and midwives commence and undertake postgraduate study. This includes in areas of clinical practice where there is an identified workforce need.
This funding will increase the number and value of scholarships for nurses and midwives commencing postgraduate studies in 2023 and 2024.
This program will help to build capability in:
- intensive care
- emergency
- oncology
- midwifery
- other areas of high clinical need.
The value of the scholarship provided to each eligible nurse and midwife will depend on the participant’s out-of-pocket costs for course fees.
Scholarship recipients must commence their postgraduate course in the 2023-24 financial year. This initiative will not provide funding for postgraduate activities undertaken before 2023-24.
Eligibility criteria
Health service
Health services will need to provide information about the course and out-of-pocket course fees for their eligible scholarship candidates to the department to receive their funding allocation.
Health services are accountable for determining the areas of practice in which they wish to provide scholarships.
Health services should use their scholarships to address local workforce shortages, projected demand in target areas of clinical practice, or align with workforce requirements for service expansion currently occurring or planned.
Priority clinical areas for 2023-24 identified by the department include:
- midwifery
- aged Care
- intensive care
- emergency
- oncology
- perioperative
- paediatrics
Other relevant clinical specialities including renal and neurology will also be considered.
Scholarships for studies in mental health are offered separately and are not included in this initiative.
Candidates
To be eligible for a scholarship you must:
- be a currently registered nurse or midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
- be an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen (or dual citizenship holders of either Australia or New Zealand), an Australian permanent resident or an Australian permanent humanitarian visa holder
- be employed in an eligible Victorian public health service
- be enrolled in semester 1, 2024 (or as appropriate), in an eligible postgraduate program that leads to a tertiary qualification in one of the priority clinical practice areas identified by the health service or department
- not already hold an award qualification in the practice area for which the scholarship is sought
- have not previously received a department scholarship to study in the practice area for which the scholarship is sought.
In addition, you must:
- agree to complete the course and work in the target area of practice (for which the scholarship was awarded). This must be in a Victorian public health service for a period of at least one year at a minimum of 0.8 EFT, or pro-rata equivalent, following completion of the postgraduate course
- only use the scholarship funds for the purpose of nursing or midwifery postgraduate study, deemed relevant to address an area of identified workforce need, as determined by the health service.
Courses
Eligible postgraduate courses must:
- be delivered by a university or an accredited higher education provider
- lead to an award qualification at postgraduate level, including Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master(s)
- have a structured clinical component within the speciality area and as evidenced through the course curriculum of at least an average of 24 hours a week
- have a dedicated clinical educator and/or clinical support staff, employed by the health service
- include clinical nursing practice related to the area of study.
How to apply
Applications for this funding will be co-ordinated by public health services.
Health services are responsible for the:
- information regarding scholarships
- application process
- selection of scholarship recipients
- disbursement of funds
- monitoring outcomes of the scholarship program.
To find out more, contact the Nursing and Midwifery Education Team at your organisation.
More information for applicants
You are responsible for enrolling in and completing the qualification by the due date and for any study costs beyond the value of the scholarship.
If you need to defer or withdraw from your studies, you must notify your employer within 1 week of the change in study arrangements.
If you plan to recommence study in the same year, you do not need to return the funds.
If you do not return to study in the same year, the scholarship funds will be recalled.
The department is not required to withhold tax (PAYG) from grants paid. You should be aware:
- you may be liable to pay tax on your scholarship. For more information, see the calculator on the Australian Taxation Office
- you may be entitled to claim a tax deduction for self-education expenses. For more information, see the Australian Taxation Office .
The department strongly recommends that recipients seek independent tax advice for their scholarship payment.
Reviewed 24 July 2024