Undergraduate Rural Placement Grants 2009
Eligibility Criteria | Additional Documents required for application | How is selection made | What happens next? | Terms and Conditions | Use of Rural Clinical Placement Grant Funding | Income tax advice | Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) adviceGrants of up to $500 for Clinical Placements done in a rural public health facility are available to students undertaking a Bachelor of Nursing or Bachelor of Midwifery degree.
Semester 1 Funding period 1 applications have closed. Late applications will not be accepted
Semester 2 Funding period 2 applications will open on 1st July 2009 and close 30th September 2009. Late applications will not be accepted. Application Login
Applicants are only permitted to submit one application per semester. One grant per applicant per semester will be awarded.
Applications must be lodged by 5.00 pm on the closing date. Faxed copies, mailed or emailed applications will not be accepted.
The outcome of your application will be known approximately five weeks after the relevant closing date. Please note however that unexpected delays do sometimes occur.
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident of Australia.
- You must be a resident of NSW.
- You must be an undergraduate student of a Bachelor of Nursing or a Bachelor of Midwifery degree being conducted at a NSW university.
- You must be undertaking a Clinical Placement in a public health facility located in rural NSW (see map). Please note what you may expect to be a rural or a metropolitan location may be different on this map.
- You must not be a current recipient of another scholarships or funding from NSW Health.
If you can answer 'yes' to all of the above questions you are eligible to apply for an Undergraduate Rural Placement Grant.
Additional Documents required for application
In addition to the lodgement of your electronic application you must provide the following original documents:-
- Written confirmation from your university nursing or midwifery course co-ordinator of your clinical placement. This letter must be on University letterhead and include your name, the name of the course you are enrolled in, the location, dates and duration of your Clinical Placement.
- A completed Australian Taxation Office Statement by a Supplier form
When completing the Statement by a Supplier form the top section that says 'Name of Supplier' and 'Address of Supplier' refers to your name and address. Tick the appropriate box and sign where it says 'Signature of Supplier or authorised person'.
Please mail these original documents to the:-
Project Officer Scholarships
Nursing and Midwifery Office
NSW Department of Health
Locked Mail Bag 961
NORTH
How is selection made
The awarding of Clinical Placement Grants is determined by a selection panel. Decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. Note: some applicants may receive a proportional grant, as determined by the selection panel.
What happens next?
Successful applicants will be sent a letter of offer. It may take up to five weeks after the relevant closing date for you to be advised of the outcome . Please note however that unexpected delays do sometimes occur.
If you are successful you will be asked for your banking details so that an electronic transfer of your Placement Grant can be made.
Terms and Conditions
- Successful applicants who cancel or change their rural Clinical Placement must notify the Nursing and Midwifery Office in writing immediately including details.
- Full or partial repayment of grant funding may be required after review of individual circumstances requiring cancellation or change to the Rural Clinical Placement.
- If successful, you must be willing to participate in an evaluation or telephone survey about the NSW Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Fund.
- A new application is required for another Metropolitan Clinical Placement Grant. Applications are not carried forward or held over.
Use of Rural Clinical Placement Grant Funding
Grants are provided to assist students with travel and accommodation costs directly associated with Rural Clinical Placements.
The Nursing and Midwifery Office does not require applicants to submit receipts, however these should be retained for taxation purposes.
Income tax advice
Full time students - Rural Clinical Placement Grants are considered to be tax exempt income for students who are studying full time at university.
Part time students - generally, Rural Clinical Placement Grants provided to part time students, regardless of their employment status is not considered to be tax exempt income. However, as long as the Rural Clinical Placement Grant is used for non-tax deductible expenses it may be classified as exempt income.
You are advised to seek independent taxation advice regarding personal circumstances.
Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) advice
An FBT issue arises with employees of the public health system who receive funding from the NSW Department of Health. Please note the following.
If the course being studied directly relates to current employment duties, the taxable value of the benefit will be reduced to nil. If there is a nil taxable value there is a nil FBT liability.
If the course being studied does not directly relate to current employment duties, the full scholarship payment will attract FBT.
You are advised to seek independent taxation advice regarding personal circumstances.
