Department of Health

Over 300 scholarships for mental health and alcohol and other drug workers

14/09/23

More than 300 mental health and wellbeing workforce scholarships are now on offer to support study in 2024.

The Victorian Government Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Scholarship Program offers development opportunities for workers employed in state funded mental health or alcohol and other drug (AOD) services.

This includes scholarships for mental health nurses to fully fund postgraduate mental health nursing qualifications. This important investment will ensure that skilled nurses, who make up the largest portion of the mental health workforce, can continue to provide vital and compassionate care across the system.

The program is also helping AOD practitioners and allied health professionals, such as occupational therapists, social workers and psychologists, develop their skillsets to support an integrated mental health system for all Victorians.

Additionally, the program includes university scholarships for people with lived and living experience who are already working in mental health services and the AOD sector, to further develop their leadership and management skills.

The program is a priority of Victoria’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy 2021-2024 and supports continued learning and development pathways to help build workforce skills, knowledge and capabilities.

Workforce reforms are creating more jobs, services, education, training and career development opportunities across the state, including regional and rural Victoria. These changes aim to ensure members of the workforce are highly skilled and supported to thrive.

The Australian College of Nursing administers the scholarship program.

Applications for most scholarships open from 15 September.

For more information on the scholarships, how to apply, and details about upcoming information sessions, see the Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Scholarship Program.

Reviewed 08 November 2023

Health.vic

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