Scholarships boost for healthcare workers

LA TROBE University has welcomed the announcement this week of a national $50.2 million nursing and midwifery scholarship program, with students at its Bendigo campus to be among the beneficiaries.

At the same time, the Federal Government also revealed it would provide cost-of-living support for teaching, nursing and social work students in next week’s Budget.

Assistant health and aged care minister Ged Kearney visited the La Trobe campus to announce the scholarship on Monday.

The Primary Care Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Program will provide 1850 postgraduate scholarships over four years for registered nurses and midwives to become nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives in primary and aged care settings.

University health innovation pro vice-chancellor Professor Jane Mills said it was pleasing to see the government taking steps to “support health workforces that face serious skills shortages”.

“Nurses and midwives are the backbone of primary care, and La Trobe has a proud tradition of preparing generations of registered nurses and nurse practitioners for the workfroce through pathways into undergraduate and postgraduate study,” Professor Mills said.

“As a former nurse, like assistant minister Kearney, I know that equipping professionals with additional tools, skills and confidence will ensure they have every opportunity to thrive in their roles and, ultimately, achieve improved care for all Australians.”

The program is aimed at strengthening the health workforce in rural and remote communities by providing preference to applicants living or working in those areas.

The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners will manage the scheme and will set up an advisory group to ensure scholarships are awarded in the areas of most need. Meanwhile, people studying to be a nurse, a teacher or a social worker will be eligible for the ‘Commonwealth Prac Payment’ which will help cover costs of mandatory work placements.

About 68,000 eligible higher education and more than 5000 VET students will receive $319.50 a week during clinical and professional placements required as part of their studies.

The payment will be available from July 1 and will be in addition to any income support a student is already receiving.

Education minister Jason Clare described the payment as “practical support for practical training”.

“Placement poverty is a real thing,” Mr Clare said. “I have met students who told me they can afford to go to uni, but they can’t afford to do the prac.”