Scholarships

Are you considering doing 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

You can receive up to $10,000 per year for up to two years when doing full-time studies. One-off bursary payments are also available to cover:

reimbursement for the total cost of the course(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 agreements must be entered into and funds allocated prior to 30 June 2020. All course and bursary activity will need to be completed by 31 December 2020.

Applications are currently open for the 2018-2019 round. See details below on how to apply.

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

Submit Application

To apply online

Read the Eligibility Guidelines for Scholarship Applicants or call us on (03) 6332 8600 to assess your eligibility
Complete the HWSP Application Form
Collect your supporting documentation
Submit your application form and supporting documentation to scholarships@hrplustas.com.au

Documentation download

The Health Workforce Scholarship Program has enabled me to complete some expensive but invaluable courses in emergency skills that are particularly important to working in a rural and remote setting. The staff at the program and HR+ have been enthusiastic, great to work with, and extremely thoughtful in putting together a training program that is perfectly suited to my training needs. I would highly recommend the HWSP for anyone who needs to further their skills and experience in particular areas of medicine in a rural and remote setting.

Dr Phillip Pullinger

GP - Huon Valley Health 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: www.doctorconnect.gov.au/internet/otd/publishing.nsf/Content/locator

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.

Are there other scholarships or grants available for Tasmanian health professionals?

If you are a GP, nurse or allied health professional working in Tasmania, there are several scholarship or grant programs which you may be eligible for. Please see the below documents for an overview and link to the respective organisations' websites.

Please note: this list is not exhaustive and will be updated to keep it current.

Health Scholarships for Tasmanian General Practitioners

Health Scholarships for Tasmanian Nursing & Allied Health Professionals – none available at this time.

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.