Victoria’s healthcare workforce faces long-standing pressures that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated.
To help address issues regarding the supply and distribution of the healthcare workforce, the Victorian Government is implementing a range of initiatives to support Victoria’s healthcare workforce, including scholarships and training support for thousands of nurses and midwives.
The package is anticipated to support the recruitment and training of 17,000 nurses and midwives to the health system. These nurses and midwives will play a critical role alongside current healthcare workers as the health system continues to respond to current demand, and reforms to increase capacity for the future.
Most scholarships are handled via health services, and Western Health is applying for all opportunities for our nurses and midwives.
Scholarships and training support
- Scholarships to support Enrolled Nurse (EN) to Registered Nurse (RN) transition
This funding will support eligible enrolled nurses employed in public health services to undertake further study to gain general registration as registered nurses. Enrolled nurses will be supported via scholarships to commence studies in 2023 or 2024.
Scholarships to support Enrolled Nurse (EN) to Registered Nurse (RN) transition - Re-entry pathway: Scholarships and support for nurses and midwives to re-enter the workforce
This pathway will provide scholarships and support for up to 25 nurses and midwives per annum to complete an approved re-entry to practice program return to practice in public health services.
Re-entry pathway: Scholarships and support for nurses and midwives to re-enter the workforce - Refresher Pathway: Scholarships and support for nurses to re-enter the workforce
This pathway will provide scholarships and support for 225 nurses and midwives per annum to undertake refresher training to return to practice in public health services.
Refresher Pathway: Scholarships and support for nurses to re-enter the workforce - Additional postgraduate nursing positions in specialty areas
This additional investment funding in postgraduate nursing and midwifery programs will support health services to train and develop specialist nursing capability in emergency care, intensive care, oncology, midwifery and other areas of high need.
Additional postgraduate nursing positions in specialty areas - Scholarships for postgraduate nurses and midwives in specialty areas
This funding will provide scholarships to support nurses and midwives in public health services to undertake an eligible clinical postgraduate course increase both the number and value of scholarships provided to nurses and midwives undertaking postgraduate studiesin areas of clinical practice where there is an identified workforce need.
Scholarships for postgraduate nurses and midwives in specialty areas - Support for new Nurse Practitioners
This funding will enable public health services to support nurse practitioner candidates, grow the number of nurse practitioners and meet future needs across the system.
Support for new Nurse Practitioners - Increased graduate nurse and midwife support
This initiative will provide additional funding to public health services to support more places in nursing and midwifery graduate programs.
Increased graduate nurse and midwife support - Undergraduate Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery Scholarships
These scholarships are designed to remove financial disincentives for nursing and midwifery students who complete their undergraduate qualification in nursing and midwifery at a Victorian education provider.
Undergraduate Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery Scholarships - Support for additional midwifery positions
This program aims to grow the midwifery workforce through supporting public health services to increase the number of registered nurses undertaking postgraduate studies in midwifery through a postgraduate midwifery employment model.
Support for additional midwifery positions