- 22 October 2025
Mental health nurses, allied health professionals, alcohol and other drug practitioners, and lived and living experience workers can apply for financial support to ease the cost of study and take the next step in their careers.
The scholarships provide up to $13,000 for allied health, AOD and LLEW study; $3,000 contributions to support postgraduate nursing; and full-fee coverage for Graduate Diplomas and Masters in Mental Health Nursing.
Rachel Griffiths was a registered nurse for 11 years before starting her transition to specialty practice as a mental health nurse in 2020.
In 2021, she was awarded a $3000 postgraduate mental health nurse scholarship. The scholarship gave her an incentive to study a Master of Mental Health Nursing, says Rachel.
“The Masters helped me to incorporate things that I wasn't aware of before starting my Masters. I was able to implement the information that I learnt at my workplace at that time.
“My journey has been so fantastic, and I've been given so many opportunities.”
Rachel encourages people working in the mental health and AOD workforce to apply for the scholarships.
“You've got nothing to lose"
Administered by the Department of Government Services and The Collective, these scholarships are designed to relieve financial pressure, open leadership pathways and increase the mental health and alcohol and other drugs workforce's capability.
The program is key to delivering the Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy 2021-2024. It builds a workforce that is skilled, diverse and supported to thrive and in turn, strengthens services and outcomes for people, families and carers across Victoria. In 2024-25, 496 scholarships were awarded to the mental health workforce.
The scholarships respond directly to the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System, which called for urgent growth and support of the workforce. Since the Royal Commission, more than $600 million has been committed to workforce initiatives, leading to a 25% increase in workforce.
Find out more at the Mental health and wellbeing workforce scholarship program page.
Reviewed 22 October 2025
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