The Rural Workforce Agency Network has announced the launch of the first national call for applications for the Health Workforce Scholarship Program, which supports postgraduate scholarships or bursaries for health professionals pursuing career development in the fields of medicine, nursing, allied health and Aboriginal health. Training related expenses such as accommodation and transport are also included in the program. Recipients must be employed in private practice, indigenous medical service or a non-government health care organisation to qualify for the program – those employed solely by a public hospital are not eligible.

Scholarships of up to $10,000 per year can be provided for up to two years of study. Approved scholarships must be directly related to training and upskilling health professionals who will provide services to rural and remote areas as classified by the Modified Monash Model (MMM) 3 - 7. All scholarships have a return of service obligation, which will be negotiated with the applicants at the time an offer of scholarship is made. For example, health professionals receiving a scholarship for part-time studies will be expected to continue providing services to the rural community for the duration of the scholarship; scholars undertaking full time studies are expected to return to a rural location to provide services for a period post the completion of their studies.

Applications begin to close from 14th December 2017, and the scholarships are managed by the relevant state or territory bodies for which the health services are being provided to, so eligibility and application details vary across the border lines.

Tasmania - HR+ - applications close 14 Dec 2017
Applicants must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency or their relevant professional body.
For more information email scholarships@hrplustas.com.au

Victoria - Rural Workforce Agency Victoria – applications close 20 Dec 2017
Separate scholarships available for health workforce (nursing, dental, pharmacy, indigenous health), leadership training, specialist allied health and undergraduate health programs.
For more information email HWSP@rwav.com.au or alliedworkforce@rwav.com.au

South Australia - Rural Doctors Workforce Agency – applications close 20 Dec 2017
For more information email Barbara.Wright@ruraldoc.com.au

Western Australia - Rural Health West – applications close 20 Dec 2017
For more information email hwsp@ruralhealthwest.com.au

Northern Territory - NTPHN – applications close 20 Dec 2017
Scholarships include a wide range of nursing and allied health disciplines including mental health, ATSI health workers, diagnostic imaging, health promotion and more.
For more information email workforce@ntphn.org.au

Queensland - Health Workforce Queensland – applications close 20 Dec 2017
For more information email scholarships@healthworkforce.com.au

New South Wales - Rural Doctors Network NSW – applications close 22 Dec 2017
Applicants must be registered with the NSW Rural Doctors Network
For more information email hwsp@nswrdn.com.au

In assessing applications, a wide range of study and training options including online courses will be considered, however the training or study pursued by applicants must help address an identified health need within the community. Positions will be allocated based on the identified health locations and needs as determined by the state rural health body.