The Australian Government is investing in Australia’s healthcare workforce by providing a new $50.2 million scholarship aimed at upskilling our nation’s nurses and midwives.
The Primary Care Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Program will provide 1,850 postgraduate scholarships over four years for registered nurses and midwives to become nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives in primary and aged care settings.
The program will strengthen the health workforce in rural and remote communities by providing preference to scholarship applicants currently living or working in these areas.
The scholarships will be administered by the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) with applications opening 17th June 2024 and closing 25th August 2024.
The objectives of the program are:
- To provide scholarships to allow registered nurses and midwives to undertake post-graduate study, including supporting registered nurses to become nurse practitioners, and midwives to become endorsed midwives.
- To increase the supply of health workers, whilst considering the changing demographics and health needs of the Australian population, and to address current health workforce shortages.
- To support the First Nations health workforce through activities that promote an increase in capacity.
- To strengthen the Australian health system, utilising full scope of practice as well as working within nursing and midwifery values, ethics, and regulatory frameworks to provide increased access to health services in communities. While not a replacement for the medical workforce, nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives can effectively provide health services in communities lacking access to other primary care services.
Leanne Boase, CEO of the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners, which will administer the scholarships, said increasing access to these qualifications will have a big pay off for the community. (Source: ABC News)
Click here to access the Department of Health and Aged Care media release.
Click here to access more information about this opportunity, including eligibility criteria, benefits and application process.
Invest in your Skills: Primary Care Nursing Scholarships are now open