- 21 October 2025
A woman in a blue nurse’s uniform walks into a hospital. Bright, optimistic music plays.
Text appears on screen that reads “Rachel, Mental Health Nurse, Monash Children’s Hospital.”
Rachel: I have been nursing for around 16 years, and currently I'm at Monash Children's Hospital and it's a career that I've really enjoyed.
Cut to an interview room at the hospital, with colourful handprints on a white wall. Rachel sits on a chair and speaks to us.
Rachel: It is my passion. I just love nursing and I love learning different things about people's physical and mental health.
A blue screen appears with text that reads: Rachel was awarded a $3000 Postgraduate Mental Health Nurse Scholarship to pursue a Masters in Mental Health.
Rachel: As part of the transition to specialty practice, we were required to commence studying our Masters of Mental Health Nursing. I was encouraged by one of the ANUMs to apply for a scholarship.
Text appears on screen that reads: ANUM: Assistant Nurse Unit Manager.
Rachel: I wasn't going to until she sort of strongly encouraged me to. It was great. It gave me an incentive to continue to study because I wasn't having to pay for it myself.
Footage of Rachel and her colleague walk the corridors of a ward, chatting and grinning.
Rachel: The masters helped incorporate things that I wasn't aware of.
Footage of Rachel and her colleagues work together at a desk.
Rachel: Before starting the masters, I was able to do three different placements and I was able to implement the information that I learned in my workplace at that time.
Footage of a team of four nurses, including Rachel, all sit together during a meeting, talking and smiling with each other.
Rachel: I've met so many great nurses and every team that I've worked with, in general and in mental health, have been fantastic. And that's sort of what gets you up each morning and wanting to go to work.
Footage of Rachel and her team play basketball in the children’s ward playground, taking turns to shoot hoops.
Rachel: My journey has been fantastic and I've been given so many opportunities. I've just worked hard and having my own lived experience in certain areas has definitely made me a better nurse.
Cut to Rachel back in the hospital interview room.
Rachel: Being able to do the Masters has given me a different insight into mental health.
So if someone's thinking of doing the scholarship, I would say definitely apply. You've got nothing to lose.
Video ends and a blue screen appears with text which reads:
“The Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Scholarship Program offers development opportunities for mental health nurses, allied health professionals, AOD practitioners and lived and living experience workers.
“Applications for 2026 are now open on health.vic.gov.au”
Video ends.
Reviewed 22 October 2025