Scholarships

Are you considering some training or upskilling? Or maybe your team would benefit from a workshop or short course?

The Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) is now open for health professionals looking to extend their skills and services to their community. The HWSP offers you and your team members opportunities to attend accredited and non-accredited:

workshops
conferences
short courses
graduate certificates
diplomas
other postgraduate qualifications
and much more

For a Scholarship you can receive up to $10,000 per year for up to two years while completing full-time studies. A 12 month return of service is required for any scholarship over the value of $5,000. One-off bursary payments are also available up to the value of $5,000 with no return of service, to cover:

reimbursement for the total cost of the course(s), conference(s) or workshop(s)
travel expenses and accommodation support where appropriate.

As every application is different and scholarship funding is subject to the HWSP eligibility guidelines for scholarship applicants.

All scholarship or bursary agreements must be entered into and funds allocated prior to 30 June 2023. All professional development activities supported by a scholarship or bursary will need to be completed by 31 December 2023.

Applications are currently open for the 2020-2021 round.

New User Existing User

To apply online

Read the Eligibility Guidelines document before applying.

New Applicant

click the New User button if you have not applied for a Health Workforce Scholarship before
once submitted, you will receive an email confirming the link to login to your account and submit your Scholarship Application

Existing Applicant

click the Existing User button if you have previously registered or applied for a Health Workforce Scholarship and you are needing to
- review it's progress
- submit an expense claim
- apply for a new scholarship or bursary

Eligibility Guidelines

What is the basic eligibility?

Scholarships are available to:

eligible medical, nursing and allied health professionals
who are servicing, or planning to service, rural areas in Tasmania categorised by Modified Monash Model (MMM) 3-7. Check our FAQ below if you are unfamiliar with MMM
who are not solely employed by the Tasmanian government

After reading the guidelines, I thought well, why not apply, if I am fortunate to get it I will do my Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education. The application was quick and easy and I sent it back to HR+ with no expectations. I was absolutely delighted and surprised when I received an email from HR+ informing me that I had been successful. I now had the opportunity to complete an area of further study that without the scholarship program I would never have done. If anyone is considering further education, I cannot encourage them enough to apply for the Scholarship Program. HR+ provides you with all the support and guidance you need and is always there to answer any questions or clarify any concerns you may have.

Meg O'Mara

Registered Nurse - Wynyard Medical Centre

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP)?

The HWSP is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health. The program is designed to improve access to services needed in rural and remote areas across Australia by supporting an increase in skills, capacity and/or scope of practice.

What types of funding are available? What is the difference between a scholarship and a bursary?

There are two types of funding under this program:

Scholarship: a payment toward the cost of completing a postgraduate course leading to a postgraduate qualification.
Bursary: a payment for completing a short course, workshop or to attend a conference, etc. This funding may include reimbursement for the cost of both the course and travel-related expenses.

The type of funding offered will depend on the type of study undertaken.

Payments made to health professionals must be directly related to training and up-skilling health professionals who will provide services to rural and remote areas and be justifiable against the perceived workforce benefit of the training.

Which health professions are eligible for the HWSP?

The following professions are eligible for the program:

Aboriginal Health Worker
Audiologist
Chiropractor
Dentist
Diabetes Nurse Educator
Dietitian / Nutritionist
Exercise Physiologist
Medical Practitioner
Nurse
Occupational Therapist
Optometrist
Osteopath
Pharmacist
Physiotherapist
Podiatrist
Psychologist
Radiographer
Social Worker
Sonographer
Speech Pathologist

What are MMM 3-7 locations in Tasmania?

The Modified Monash Model (MMM) is a geographical classification system which better categorises metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas according to both geographical remoteness and town size.

The HWSP is available to health professionals located in or providing services to areas categorised as MMM 3-7.

You can find the classification of your location via the following link: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/health-workforce-locator/health-workforce-locator

Please click on 'Search a location', click the checkbox for Modified Monash Model, and select 2019 from the ‘Select a year’ drop-down menu.

Can I apply more than once for the HWSP?

You can make more than one application, to the total value of $10,000 per financial year. However, where the scholarship program is oversubscribed only one application will be considered.

Am I eligible to apply for an HWSP scholarship/bursary if I work in both the public and private sectors?

If you are working in both sectors, you may be eligible to apply for the HWSP. Health professionals solely employed by the Tasmanian Department of Health or the Tasmanian Health Service are not eligible for the HWSP.

Will I be required to commit to a return of service period after I complete my HWSP study/training?

For scholarship or bursary amounts awarded over $5,000, recipients of the HWSP scholarship will be required to commit to providing the health service in the MMM 3-7 area for up to 12 months post course completion. This helps ensure rural communities receive the benefit of the additional training and development sponsored through the HWSP.

A memorandum of understanding will be put in place prior to the receipt of any funding and will outline any return of service obligations.

Email HR+ Scholarships

Still not sure or have a question?

If you have any questions or wish to discuss your eligibility, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We also have a comprehensive FAQ section above, so make sure to have a look.