Scholarships of up to $5,000 are available for people from rural NSW who are undertaking first year studies of a Bachelor of Nursing or Bachelor of Midwifery degree in 2023.

Applications open on 24 October 2022 and close on 20 January 2023. Late applications will not be accepted.

EligibilityMap of Rural NSW defining boundaries as Berry, Maitland and Lithgow

You can apply for a 2023 Rural Undergraduate Scholarship if you:

  • are an Australian citizen or permanent resident living in NSW
  • are enrolled in your first year of an Australian Bachelor of Nursing or Bachelor of Midwifery degree in 2023
  • have lived in a rural location in NSW for more than five years, within the last ten years
  • are intending to practice in a rural location as a registered nurse or midwife when you complete your studies
  • are willing to participate in an evaluation or telephone survey about the scholarship

For the purposes of these scholarships, rural NSW is defined by the boundaries of Berry, Maitland and Lithgow.

The number of scholarships awarded is subject to funds being available. Preference will be given to applicants living in locations with the greatest workforce needs.

Preparing your application

All applications must include an essay and supporting documents.

Essay

Write a 250 to 500 word essay response to the question:

Why do you wish to become a nurse or midwife and what could you offer your own rural community?

Type your essay in a Word document and save it to your hard drive before you upload it to the application form.

Supporting documents

Confirmation of enrolment

You must upload an official confirmation of your enrolment in an Australian undergraduate nursing or midwifery course in 2023. This should be a PDF less than 500KB.

This document must include:

  • your name
  • the name of the course
  • the year of study and a list of the subjects you have enrolled in for 2023

If your enrolment confirmation is unavailable at the time of application, please provide confirmation of your application for entry and email your enrolment confirmation to MOH-NScholar@health.nsw.gov.au as soon as it is available. Enrolment confirmation must be received by 1 March 2023. Generic information about course subjects will not be accepted.

Letter of support

You must include a letter (as a Word document less than 250KB) from a person who knows you, which reflects your rural background, your character and desire to practice nursing or midwifery in a rural setting in the future.

This letter cannot be completed by a family member.

An appropriate person could be:

  • a recent employer
  • a high school principal or senior teacher
  • a health professional or minister of religion
  • an office bearer in a community or sporting organisation that you are involved in

How to apply

You must complete your application online. You can't change your application once it's been submitted.

We recommend that you write your essay and have all information needed before you fill out your application form.

When your application is submitted. you'll be sent a unique ID number. Keep a record of this number to submit with supporting documents or if you enquire about your application.

Applications close on 20 January 2023.

Frequently asked questions

When will I know if my application is successful?

You'll find out the outcome of your application by the end of April 2023.

Can I apply for a scholarship each year of my study?

No. This scholarship is only offered to people from rural NSW who are doing first year studies of a Bachelor of Nursing or Bachelor of Midwifery degree in 2023.

Who awards these scholarships?

A selection panel award these scholarships. Their decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.

What happens next?

If successful, and all your supporting documents have been received by the Health Education and Training Institute, your scholarship offer will be emailed by the end of April 2023. Payments won't be processed until the confirmation of your enrolment is received.

If you are unsuccessful, you'll also be emailed by the end of April 2023.

If successful, how much money will I receive?

You'll get $2,500 for part time study and $5,000 for full time.

We base the funding on the enrolment information that you supply. The EFTSL on your enrolment indicates whether you are a full time or part time student. To be considered a full time student your EFTSL must add up to 1.00.

Funding will be adjusted if money is received for your course from another source.

When will I receive my scholarship payment?

It may take up to five weeks after confirmation to process payments into your bank account. Unexpected delays sometimes occur. Payments can't be made into credit card accounts.

What can I use my scholarship funding for?

Your scholarship funding is for educational expenses directly associated with your undergraduate nursing or midwifery degree, such as accommodation, living expenses, text books and course fees. The Health Education and Training Institute does not require receipts, however you should keep these for taxation purposes.

What if I defer, withdraw or change my subjects in 2023?

If you defer or withdraw from your course or change the number of subjects being studied during 2023, you must tell the Health Education and Training Institute in writing within seven days. After a review of your individual circumstances, you may have to repay all or part of your scholarships.

What if I fail a subject in 2023?

Scholarship funds are available to cover all subjects in your course once only. No funds are available if you fail a subject and need to repeat the subject.

What if I owe money from a previous nursing or midwifery scholarship?

If you owe outstanding money from a previous scholarship the offer of the new scholarship will be withdrawn until you repay the funds.

What about overpayments?

If an overpayment is identified or you don't continue with your course (subject to individual review), you'll be asked to refund your scholarship funding.

Are there any income tax implications?

No withholding tax has been deducted. Please get independent tax advice on implications.

What about Fringe benefits tax (FBT) advice?

An FBT issue may arise if you're an employee of the NSW public health system and get funding from the NSW Ministry of Health. Please seek independent advice regarding your personal circumstances where necessary.

Further information

We might ask you to take part in an evaluation or telephone survey regarding your scholarship.

For more information about these scholarships email the Senior Program Officer Scholarships at MOH-NScholar@health.nsw.gov.au.​​​​​


Current as at: Monday 17 October 2022
Contact page owner: Nursing and Midwifery