Important information for scholarships

Scholarship applications for semester 1 are typically open between December and January each year. Scholarships applications for semester 2 are typically open between May and July. A link to the online application system will appear during this time only on the main scholarships page.

Please note that scholarships are now granted for one academic semester only due to financial reporting requirements. You will need to reapply for subsequent semesters of study. The scholarship funding no longer covers you for the full academic year.

If you are studying units which are over a course of trimesters, applications for these units will need to be submitted in the respective semester which they fall within. For example, applications for trimester 1 and 2 units should be included in your semester 1 application. Applications for scholarships need to be made before you can undertake study.

Eligibility criteria

All scholarships

• Applicants must be an Australian citizen or in possession of a permanent residency visa (or equivalent) and be currently residing in WA.
• Copy of your birth certificate, Australian passport, Australian citizenship certificate or evidence of a permanent residency visa must be provided.
• Applicants who are casually employed within WA Department of Health are deemed ineligible. Exemption is applied to midwifery students.
• Eligibility and criteria are reviewed annually and subject to change.

Eligibility requirements for specific scholarships

Initial registration – enrolled nurse scholarships

• You must have successfully completed semester one of the Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled/Division 2 Nursing) at a Western Australian vocational education and training institution. You will be required to provide evidence of this within your application.
• You must provide confirmation of enrolment from your WA vocational education and training institution for the units you plan to study. Failure to provide this by the closing date will disqualify you from being eligible for a scholarship.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander are eligible to apply for a scholarship to cover stage one the Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled/Division 2 Nursing).

Initial registration – registered nurse or midwife scholarships

• Applicants must have successfully completed semester one and two of the Bachelor of Science (Nursing) or Bachelor of Science (Midwifery) degree at a full-time study load or part-time equivalent. You will be required to provide evidence of this within your application.
• Students of Graduate Pathway programs, with recognition of prior learning, can apply from commencement of their course.
• You must provide confirmation of enrolment from a WA university for the units you plan to study. Failure to provide this by the closing date will disqualify you from being eligible for a scholarship.

Postgraduate scholarships

• Applicants must be currently registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
• You must provide confirmation of enrolment from a university/institution for the units you plan to study. Failure to provide this by the closing date will disqualify you from being eligible for a scholarship. If the course is not offered in WA, you may still apply. However, you are required to provide supporting evidence of why you have chosen this course.
• A limited amount of postgraduate scholarships are available to nurses and midwives working in the private sector. However, priority will be given to those working in the WA public health sector.
• Applicants that are receiving funding from another source are ineligible to apply.
• Scholarships will be awarded based on current and projected workforce requirements and areas of high clinical need.
• Funding and conditions may change without notice.

Renewal of Registration Scholarships – registered nurse, enrolled nurse and midwife

• You must provide confirmation of enrolment for the units of study in a Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) approved education provider for a Re-entry to Nursing or Midwifery program.
• You must apply for this scholarship before commencing a Re-entry to Nursing or Midwifery program.

Postgraduate Enrolled Nurse Specialisation Scholarship

• You must be able to provide evidence of enrolment with a registered training organisation.
• You must apply for this scholarship before commencement of an Advanced Diploma of Nursing course.
• You must be registered with the NMBA as an enrolled nurse and currently employed full-time or part-time within WA Health.

Rhonda Marriott Scholarship

• You must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
• You must be currently employment with WA Health as a registered nurse or midwife. As part of your application you will need to attach the following documents.
  • proof of your current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) (external site) i.e. a copy of current registration certificate or printout from the NMBA website
  • evidence of enrolment for study for the year requested for funding
  • cover letter (max two pages) detailing previous experience, reasons for undertaking study and how this scholarship will assist in your professional development.

New Zealand citizens

You are required to provide evidence of New Zealand citizenship and/or evidence of your permanent residency status from Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) such as a Special Category Visa.

Evidence of enrolment

Evidence of enrolment must be submitted as part of your application. Without this, you may be deemed ineligible for a scholarship. Please refer to the example of what an enrolment notice should show - enrolment (PDF 60.8KB). This is the only type of document that will be accepted as proof of enrolment.

Clinical experience required

You do not need to have 12 months clinical experience to apply for a postgraduate scholarship. However, if the demand for scholarships exceeds the funding, priority will be given to nurses and midwives with greater than two years post registration experience.

Tax implications

Any tax implications associated with the scholarships, fellowships and academic grants are the responsibility of the individual applicant. Please seek further advice from your tax accountant to determine your personal tax obligations.

Scholarship restrictions

• All applications for scholarships must be for the upcoming study semester. You cannot apply for a scholarship for units completed in a previous semester.
• If you are receiving funding from another source of course fees, then you are ineligible to apply for a Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office scholarship. If you are awarded a scholarship and you have not disclosed other funding sources, then the scholarship is deemed void and invalid. You may be responsible for paying back any monies that you received from the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office.
• Funding is not available for unit/s that are awarded a Credit for Recognised Learning or Recognition of Prior Learning.

Application process

Applications can only be made online via the advert link on the Scholarships page. This link will be activated when submissions are open.

Submission of a scholarship application does not guarantee a successful outcome. Scholarships are competitive and are based on current and projected workforce requirements and areas of high clinical need.

Priority in the allocation of scholarships is given to WA Health employees.

Documentation required

• Covering letter – applications for scholarships are highly competitive and your cover letter (maximum of one page) should contain information regarding why you think you should be awarded a scholarship and how it will assist you.
• Proof of Australian citizenship or permanent residency visa.
• Evidence of enrolment in units of study.
• Document supporting name change (if different to proof of identity listed above).
• Previous semester’s results (where applicable – see eligibility above).
• Proof of your current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) (external site). (i.e. A copy of your current registration certificate or printout from the NMBA website.) This is not required for students undertaking their initial qualification as a nurse or midwife.
• Private sector postgraduate scholarship applicants also require a letter of support (Word 356 KB) from their Director of Nursing/Midwifery.

Incomplete applications, without the required supporting documentation listed will be deemed ineligible.

Please note that supporting documentation may only be attached in Word, JPEG or PDF file format.

Scholarship granting process

• If you are successful in gaining a scholarship you will receive a letter of intent that must be completed and returned. For funding to be reimbursed, you are required to successfully complete the units that you have applied for.
• If you are unsuccessful in receiving a scholarship you will be sent an outcome notification.
• If you are awarded a scholarship, you will only be funded for the units that you have submitted in your initial application – additional units cannot be added.
• Scholarships are non-transferable and are only valid for the semester you applied for.
• If you withdraw or defer from study, you must inform the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office in writing. The scholarship will be forfeited and you will need to reapply for the next semester you choose to study.
• If your circumstances change, or details of the course change, the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office must be notified in writing.

• Scholarships cannot be extended. If the course duration is more than one semester, you will need to reapply the following semester for another scholarship.

Providing your results and invoice

• If you are successful in gaining a scholarship, funding will be provided at the end of each completed semester of study. This will only occur once your academic transcript and  an official tax invoice have been received by the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office via email.

• Under no circumstances are funds provided up front, nor are they paid to the intuition or HECS/Fee HELP account on your behalf.

To receive reimbursement, you must send the required documentation to the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office before the deadline stated in your Scholarship Intention Letter. 

Failure to send your documents before the due date may void that particular semester’s scholarship payment.

Payment of funds

Once the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office has received your academic transcript and official tax invoice, funds will be paid directly to you. This process can take up to 6 weeks. It is your responsibility to inform the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office, in writing, if you change your postal address,

Appeals

The Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office has an appeals process. Please review the following two documents to find out how to lodge an appeal. Appeals must be lodged within 30 days of receiving an unsuccessful outcome notification.

• Appeals process (Word 174KB)
• Appeal form (Word 100KB)

Resources

• Scholarships
• Fellowships and grants