We want to give nurses and midwives the chance to observe and learn about innovative and best practice in their profession.

Judith Meppem scholarships support this by offering up to $12,000 to nurses and midwives on study tours.

Every year we offer up to four Judith Meppem Scholarships for nurses and/or midwives working the NSW public health system.

We award the scholarships on a competitive basis and you must take the study tour within 12 months of the grant.

You can take your study tour in all areas of nursing and midwifery practice including clinical, education and management. You're welcome to visit multiple locations but all as part of a single trip.

The scholarships don't apply to courses or conference attendance.

Eligibility and selection criteria

You must:

• be a nurse or midwife who is a permanent employee of the NSW public health system
• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and residing in NSW
• have support from your line manager and the local health district/specialty network Director of Nursing and Midwifery (DoNM)

You also have to:

• Submit a draft study tour plan (see Section B of the application form)
• give a quote for travel costs, including airfare and an estimate of accommodation costs
• show the proposed benefit of the study tour to yourself and your local health district/specialty network (LHD/SN)
• show how you will apply the learning of the study tour to the LHD/SN
• supply a contract/agreement from the institution/service you plan to visit

Terms and conditions

It isn't guarenteed that you'll get a Judith Meppem scholarship when you apply for it. The Scholarship Assessment Committee awards them at their own discretion and their decision is final.

We don't encourage taking private or annual leave with your study tour. However, if it's a consideration, you must comply with NSW Ministry of Health Policy Directive PD2016_010.

You must submit a report to the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer within 30 days of returning from your study tour. Include a copy of these documents with the report:

• air travel ticket/e-ticket
  
• an account of how you spent the scholarship funds

Please keep all receipts for personal taxation purposes.

You can't transfer your scholarship to any other person or for any other use either in part or whole.

You may be asked to present your findings at a relevant forum. This could be a presentation on International Nurses' or International Midwives' day at either a State or LHD/SN level.

You're also expected to present your outcomes in a relevant journal/newsletter. This published work should acknowledge the support of a Judith Meppem scholarship and the NSW Ministry of Health.

You have to submit your application to your line manager first. Then to the DoNM, who'll forward it on to us at the Nursing and Midwifery Office (NaMO). Make sure you give yourself enough time to get it in by the closing date.

Use of funds

You can use your scholarship for the following purposes:

• fares, accommodation and official daily allowance items such as meals, personal laundry, telephone calls, etc.
• visits to hospitals, centres, providers of health services of excellence in public and/or private health care sectors

Application form

Please send your completed Application Form and supporting documentation to the Nursing and Midwifery Office by close of business before the last day of the application period.

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.