Re-entry pathway scholarships for nurses

Overview

In partnership with La Trobe University, the Victorian Department of Health is making 20 scholarships, worth $15,000 each, available for this course as part of their Making it free to study nursing and midwifery initiative.

The scholarship covers the course fee of $8250 with the remaining $6750 available to support your participation in the 4-week placement component and other course-related costs.

If you

• Live in Victoria or border communities (see below)
• Meet the requirements of Nursing & Midwifery Board Australia Re-entry to practice policy

Apply by 19 June 2024 for scholarship consideration.

Scholarships will be awarded to successful candidates, subject to NMBA provisional registration approval.

Scholarship applicant eligibility

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for a scholarship as part of this initiative, you must:

• hold an Australian or New Zealand citizenship, Australian permanent resident visa or Australian permanent humanitarian visa holder;
• have been previously registered as a nurse in Australia and have relevant clinical experience, as either:
  • a nurse, with at least two years of relevant domestic clinical experience in nursing or midwifery while employed in Australia
  • a paramedic and nurse, with at least two years of relevant domestic clinical experience in nursing or a combination of two years of relevant domestic
  • clinical experience across both disciplines (for example, one year paramedicine experience, one year clinical nursing experience).
• meet the requirements outlined in the NMBA Re-entry to practice policy that requires you to complete a re-entry program of study, such as this course, to regain registered nursing or midwifery registration
• currently reside in Victoria or a border community (see below)
• not have previously received a Department of Health scholarship to study a re-entry nursing or midwifery course in the last 3 years
• express your commitment, to via the application process, to undertake nursing or midwifery employment within a Victorian public health service upon completion of the course.

Priority criteria

Should the demand for scholarships exceed the number available, preference will be given to individuals who can demonstrate one or more of the following:

• a commitment to working in a regional or rural Victorian public health service following completion of the course
• a disadvantaged financial background (e.g., be in receipt of Centrelink benefits, eligible for a health care card, are experiencing economic hardship etc)
• difficult circumstances (e.g., have been impacted by natural disasters such as floods, bushfire, or drought)
• prior relevant Victorian public health service experience as either a nurse, midwife or paramedic.

More information for applicants

The Department of Health is not required to withhold tax (PAYG) from scholarships 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 website
• you may be entitled to claim a tax deduction for self-education expenses. For more information, see the Australian Taxation Office website.

The department strongly recommends that recipients seek independent tax advice for their scholarship payment.

Cross border communities

Border community regions align with those specified during the COVID-19 pandemic as follows.