Scholarships
We have recently created a new online scholarship application process which will be available to our Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, nurses and midwives in January 2022.
This will see two rounds of scholarships per year, in January and July. With new eligibility criteria also coming into affect.
Eligibility Criteria for all CATSINaM Scholarships:
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander;
- CATSINaM Membership ID;
- Current Ahpra registration number and/or student number;
- Demonstrated ongoing level of engagement on the members-only Back to the Fire platform; and
- Consent given for details to be shared with scholarship provider for promotional endeavors to attract other members.
CATSINaM scholarship opportunities
CATSINaM general scholarships
- Availability of scholarship dependent on funding
- Scholarships could be used for various reasons that will be determined by the scholarship panel eg Continuous Professional Development, CATSINSaM conferences and anything else the scholarships commitment determines applicant eligible for.
The Royal Flying Doctor’s Service (RFDS)
Since January 2017, the Royal Flying Doctor’s Service (RFDS) has provided financial support to CATSINaM members through scholarships to Nursing and Midwifery Students undertaking clinical placements in remote and rural Australia.
- National Rural and Remote Clinical Placement
- Support with costs of this placement: travel to/from and accommodation etc.
Integrity Health and Safety
Integrity Health and Safety has been supporting the ongoing professional development of Aboriginal and Torres Islander nurses via the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives since 2016, by funding scholarships in First Aid, CPR, Flu Vaccination and Leadership courses to assist build healthcare capabilities and farther afield.
- Advancing clinical education courses, including COVID immunisation training
- Advancing leadership education course
- Providing support to obtain CPR Courses including refresher.
Northern Territory Primary Health Network (NTPHN)
Integrity Health & Safety has been supporting the ongoing professional development of Aboriginal and Torres Islander nurses via the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives since 2016, by funding scholarships in First Aid, CPR, Flu Vaccination and Leadership courses to assist build healthcare capabilities and farther afield.
- Advancing clinical education courses, including COVID immunisation training
- Advancing leadership education course
- Providing support to obtain CPR Courses including refresher.
Waijungbah Jarjums
Graduate Diploma in Child and Family Health (Karitane) Sydney University
Grace Kinsella Chong Women’s Health
Post-graduate women’s health course.
External scholarship opportunities
Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship (external)
The Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme (PHMSS) commenced in 2002 in commemoration of Arnold ‘Puggy’ Hunter, the first Chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. The Australian College of Nursing is funded around $4.5m (GST inclusive) per year until 2022-23 to administer the PHMSS. Under the PHMSS, scholarships are provided to eligible students for full-time ($15,000 per year) and part-time studies ($7,500 per year) for the duration of their studies.
New funding of $4.5 million was announced in the 2021-22 Budget measure – National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan – Growing and Upskilling the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Workforce to support greater representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the mental health workforce. This measure will allow a minimum of 40 additional mental health specific scholarships alongside culturally safe mentoring support to all scholarship recipients studying mental health courses over two years from 2021-22 to 2022-23. These new mental health scholarships will commence in Semester 1 2022.
The scheme provides financial assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander undergraduate students studying health related disciplines in a university, TAFE, or Registered Training Organisation. Support is limited to entry level studies that lead or are a direct pathway to registration or practice as a health professional. Research courses and postgraduate study is not supported.
Scholarship places are available to students in the following health disciplines; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners, Allied Health (except Pharmacy), Dental and/or Oral Health (except dental assistants), Direct entry Midwifery, Medicine and Nursing (registered and enrolled).
Mental Health Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship Program (external)
The Mental Health Nursing and Allied Health Scholarships Program will run over two years from 2021-22 to 2022-23. The 2020-21 Budget Measure – National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan – Pillar 5 – Workforce and Governance, announced up to $5.151 million to support the attraction, upskilling, and retention of key mental health professionals to address mental health workforce shortages.
The Program has two components:
- Mental Health Nursing: including up to 126 postgraduate scholarships relating to mental health and suicide prevention
- Allied Health Professionals and Psychologists: including up to 152 postgraduate scholarships relating to mental health and suicide prevention in tertiary, vocational and continuing professional development courses
A minimum of five percent of all scholarships will be prioritised for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. Preference will be given to applicants who are living and/or working in areas classified under the Modified Monash Model 2019 (MMM) classification system as MM 3-7. This program is intended to commence Semester 1 2022.
Aged Care Nursing Scholarship Program (external)
The Aged Care Nursing Scholarship Program seeks to increase the knowledge and skills of nurses working in aged care facilities in Australia and support the aged care sector through the funding of training, workforce development and specialist workforce activities.
The scholarships are administered by the Australian College of Nursing and the 2021-22 budget measure Growing a skilled and high quality workforce to care for senior Australians aims to fund up to $26.2 million over three years (2021–22 to 2023–24) to provide new scholarships to Allied Health Professionals focusing on dementia care qualifications. It forms part of the Australian Government’s response to train and upskill the aged care workforce to drive improvements to the safety and quality of care experienced by senior Australians. This includes:
- 400 new aged care nursing scholarships per year for three years
- 100 new allied health scholarships focusing on dementia care per year for three years.
This program will enable more nurses working in aged care to access education with scholarships available for assistants in nursing and personal care workers, enrolled nurses, and registered nurses including nurse practitioners.
Eligible courses include; Diploma of Nursing, Certificate IV in Aged Care, Advanced Diploma in Nursing, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Masters.
Depending on the course undertaken up to $15,000 is available per year for full time study.
It is a national program, however preference is given to applicants who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background and applicants who are living and/or working in MM 3-7 locations.
These new scholarships are intended to commence in Semester 1 2022.
