The Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) provides scholarships and bursaries to help health professionals in remote and rural Australia retain and enhance their skills, capacity and scope of practice.

Scholarships and bursaries are available for medical, nursing, midwifery, dental, allied health, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers, who are providing primary health care in remote and rural Queensland. They must work in private practice, Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS), Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS), or non-profit organisations.

Eligible Locations:

• MM 3-7 locations for remote and rural primary health care providers.
• MM 1-7 locations for health professionals employed by AMSs and ACCHSs.

Bursary: Payments of up to $10,000 within a 12-month period that covers the cost of course fees and training related expenses such as travel and accommodation where appropriate. Including online or face-to-face: short courses, workshops, and conferences.

Scholarship: Payments up to $10,000 per year can be provided for up to two years, to attain a post graduate qualification of either a postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma, Master or PhD.

Note: Retrospective costs (completed courses) are not eligible for funding. If you're currently undertaking eligible upskilling (part-way through the course), funding may be assessed for future expenses.

Eligibility:

Who is eligible?

You are:

A health professional who has obtained their primary professional qualification (minimum Bachelor unless otherwise noted below), holds professional registration (AHPRA or equivalent) and is working in the role as:

• An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker/Practitioner (minimum Certificate 4 in Primary Health Care); or
• An Allied Health Professional, including but not limited to:
  • Audiologists
  • Chiropractors
  • Dietitians
  • Exercise physiologists
  • Medical radiation practitioners
  • Occupational therapists
  • Optometrists
  • Orthoptists
  • Orthotists/prosthetists
  • Osteopaths
  • Pharmacists
  • Physiotherapists
  • Podiatrists
  • Psychologists
  • Social workers
  • Sonographers
  • Speech pathologists
• A Dentist; or
• A Medical Practitioner; or
• A Nurse or Midwife (minimum Diploma)

Providing primary health care services to patients on a full or part-time basis.

Providing (or can demonstrate through a service or employment agreement that you are about to provide) primary health care services in rural Queensland (MMM 3-7 locations). Or, an eligible health professional working in an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) in MMM 1-7 locations. Refer to the Health Workforce Locator.

Proposing to undertake study or upskilling activities that will fill the established, high priority gaps in primary healthcare service provision within your community, as identified in the HWNA.

Proposing to continue working for an eligible employer in a rural Queensland MMM 3-7 (or MMM 1-7 if you are employed by a AMS or ACCHS) location for the course duration and after completing your course. If the funding provided is greater than $5,000 for one course and/or course length is greater than 6 months you will be required to complete a return of service obligation (ROSO) for 12 months after the completion of the course with your eligible employer as per your original approval.

• Email: scholarships@healthworkforce.com.au