Department of Health

Undergraduate (entry-to-practice) nursing and midwifery scholarships

10,000 scholarships are available across 2023 and 2024 for new domestic nursing and midwifery students.

The Department of Health is offering scholarships as part of the Making It Free to Study Nursing and Midwifery initiative, to train and upskill the next generation of registered nurses and midwives.

This includes scholarships for Victorian and eligible border community residents to complete an undergraduate (entry-to-practice) nursing or midwifery qualification – such as a bachelor’s degree.

Approximately 10,000 scholarships of up to $16,500 are available for new domestic students commencing an eligible program of study, between 1 January 2023 and the Semester 1, 2024 census date. This will enable them to obtain their first qualification that leads to registration as a registered nurse or midwife.

Note: The term ‘undergraduate (entry-to-practice)’ means undergraduate, graduate entry or professional entry degrees which lead to general registration as a registered nurse or a midwife. This may include double degrees and Master of Nursing programs but excludes transition degrees (for example, courses that enable enrolled nurses to transition from ‘diploma to degree’ to become registered as a registered nurse and international conversion programs).

Overview

These scholarships aim to:

  • reduce financial disincentives associated with undertaking entry-to-practice nursing and/or midwifery studies, including the costs associated with clinical placement
  • build the Victorian nursing and midwifery workforce of the future by attracting Victorians to study nursing and/or midwifery entry-to-practice courses
  • attract newly graduated registered nurses and midwives to undertake careers within Victorian Public Health Services and retain those graduates by rewarding retention.

Scholarships for eligible recipients include the following:

  • Up to a maximum of $9,000 while undertaking study. This includes $3,000 per annum over a maximum of 3 years. For example:

    • if enrolled in a 3 or 4 year degree program, you may be eligible to be paid up to $9,000
    • if enrolled in a 2 year entry-to-practice program of study (such as graduate-entry courses) you may be eligible to be paid up to $6,000.

    The university component scholarship amount received may be impacted for students who have received credits for prior learning and/or whose studies have been accelerated.

    When applying for these scholarships, students are asked to acknowledge they will make reasonable efforts to complete their entry-to-practice degree. They will also be asked to undertake employment as a registered nurse or midwife within a Victorian Public Health Service following study completion.

  • An additional $7,500 if you are employed at a Victorian Public Health Service as a registered nurse and/or midwife and meet the following requirements:

    • you have been a recipient of the full university component of the scholarship for your program of study
    • you are employed as a registered nurse and/or midwife at a Victorian Public Health Service within 12 months of study completion or by 30 June 2029, whichever is earliest
    • you remain employed as a registered nurse or midwife in a Victorian Public Health Service for at least 2 years and have maintained an average of 0.8 FTE hours across the 2 years, from the date of employment.

    A Victorian Public Health Service refers to a public health service listed in Schedule 1 – 5 (inclusive) in the Health Services Act 1988.

    The total maximum scholarship value (if eligible for both components) is $16,500. An eligible student/Victorian Public Health Service employee can only receive one scholarship.

    Scholarships will be administered annually, with payments made in December each year. Payments may be delayed, where remediation is required.

Eligibility

For information on the eligibility criteria and how this is assessed, see the funding guidelines on the Victorian Government's Undergraduate (Entry-To-Practice) Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship ProgramExternal Link page. This also outlines the scholarship terms and conditions.

How to apply

Round 2 of the Undergraduate (entry-to-practice) scholarships closed at 4 pm, 1 November 2023.

Round 2 was aimed at students who commenced their studies in 2023. Students commencing studies post Round 2 will have the opportunity to apply for the scholarship in Round 3.

Round 3 will open in mid-2024. This round will be aimed at students who commenced studies in 2024.

This program is funded through the Victorian Government Department of Health and is administered on behalf of the State of Victoria by its departments, including the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions and the Department of Government Services.

More information for applicants

The Victorian Government is not required to withhold tax (PAYG) from scholarships paid. It is strongly recommended when you are considering applying to this program that you obtain relevant professional advice on any impact of the payment of a scholarship has on your tax liability or any other benefits paid under an Australian Government scheme, such as Austudy, Abstudy, aged, disability or carer allowances, pensions or the like.

For more information, see the Australian Taxation Office websiteExternal Link .

You must be a current Victorian resident or resident of a border community for the duration of your approved nursing or midwifery program of study. If you reside or your education provider is located in one of the following cross border communities you may be eligible for the scholarship program.

Cross border communities

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

New South Wales

  • Balranald Shire
  • Bega Valley Shire
  • Berrigan Shire
  • City of Albury
  • City of Broken Hill
  • City of Wagga Wagga
  • Edward River Council
  • Federation Council
  • Greater Hume Shire
  • Hay Shire
  • Lockhart Shire
  • Murray River Council
  • Murrumbidgee Council
  • Snowy Monaro Regional Council
  • Snowy Valleys Council
  • Wentworth Shire

Note: The Silver City Highway between the Broken Hill and Wentworth Local Government Areas is part of the NSW-Victoria border bubble.

South Australia

  • Berri Barmera Council
  • City of Mount Gambier
  • District Council of Grant
  • District Council of Loxton Waikerie
  • District Council of Robe
  • Kingston District Council
  • Naracoorte Lucindale Council
  • Renmark Paringa Council
  • Southern Mallee District Council
  • Tatiara District Council
  • Wattle Range Council

Reviewed 21 February 2024

Health.vic

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