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New participant registrations and applications will reopen from the 1st of March 2025.
Health Workforce Scholarship Program
Health Workforce Scholarship Program
Are you considering training or upskilling? Or maybe your team would benefit from a workshop or short course?
The Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) is for health professionals looking to extend their skills and services in rural and remote communities. The HWSP offers you and your team members the opportunity to attend accredited and non-accredited:
- workshops
- conferences
- short courses
- graduate certificates
- diplomas
- other postgraduate qualifications
- and much more
For a scholarship you can receive up to $10,000 per year for up to two years while completing full-time studies. A 12 month return of service is required for any scholarship over the value of $5,000. One-off bursary payments are also available up to the value of $5,000 with no return of service, to cover:
- reimbursement for the total cost of the course(s), conference(s) or workshop(s)
- travel expenses and accommodation support where appropriate.
Every application is different and scholarship funding is subject to the HWSP eligibility guidelines for scholarship applicants.
All scholarship or bursary agreements must be entered into and funds allocated prior to 30 June 2027. All professional development activities supported by a scholarship or bursary will need to be completed by 31 December 2027.
To apply online
Read the Program Guidelines document before applying.
New Applicant
- click the Register for HWSP button if you have not applied for a Health Workforce Scholarship before
- once submitted, you will receive an email confirming the link to login to your account and submit your Scholarship Application
Existing Applicant
- click the User Portal Access button if you have previously registered or applied for a Health Workforce Scholarship and you are needing to
- review it's progress
- submit an expense claim
- apply for a new scholarship or bursary
What is the basic eligibility?
Scholarships are available for:
- eligible medical, nursing and allied health professionals
- who are servicing, or planning to service rural areas in Tasmania categorised by the Modified Monash Model (MMM) 3-7. Check our FAQ below if you are unfamiliar with MMM
- who are not solely employed by the Tasmanian government
The Health Workforce Scholarship Program has enabled me to complete some expensive but invaluable courses in emergency skills that are particularly important to working in a rural and remote setting. The staff at the program and HR+ have been enthusiastic, great to work with, and extremely thoughtful in putting together a training program that is perfectly suited to my training needs. I would highly recommend the HWSP for anyone who needs to further their skills and experience in particular areas of medicine in a rural and remote setting.
Dr Phillip Pullinger
GP - Huon Valley Health Centre
Frequently Asked Questions
The HWSP is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health. The program is designed to improve access to services needed in rural and remote areas across Australia by supporting an increase in skills, capacity and/or scope of practice.
There are two types of funding under this program:
- Scholarship: a payment toward the cost of completing a postgraduate course leading to a postgraduate qualification.
- Bursary: a payment for completing a short course, workshop or to attend a conference, etc. This funding may include reimbursement for the cost of both the course and travel-related expenses.
The type of funding offered will depend on the type of study undertaken.
Payments made to health professionals must be directly related to training and up-skilling health professionals who will provide services to rural and remote areas and be justifiable against the perceived workforce benefit of the training.
The following professions are eligible for the program:
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker/Practitioner
- Audiologist
- Chiropractor
- Dentist
- Diabetes Nurse Educator
- Dietitian / Nutritionist
- Exercise Physiologist
- Medical Practitioner (GP)
- Nurse
- Occupational Therapist
- Optometrist
- Osteopath
- Pharmacist
- Physiotherapist
- Podiatrist
- Psychologist
- Radiographer
- Social Worker
- Sonographer
- Speech Pathologist
The Modified Monash Model (MMM) is a geographical classification system which better categorises metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas according to both geographical remoteness and town size.
The HWSP is available to health professionals located in or providing services to areas categorised as MMM 3-7.
You can find the classification of your location via the following link: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/health-workforce-locator/health-workforce-locator
Please click on 'Search a location', click the checkbox for Modified Monash Model, and select 2019 from the ‘Select a year’ drop-down menu.
You can make more than one application, to the total value of $10,000 per financial year. However, where the scholarship program is oversubscribed only one application will be considered.
If you are working in both sectors, you may be eligible to apply for the HWSP. Health professionals solely employed by the Tasmanian Department of Health or the Tasmanian Health Service are not eligible for the HWSP.
For scholarship or bursary amounts awarded over $5,000, recipients of the HWSP scholarship will be required to commit to providing the health service in the MMM 3-7 area for up to 12 months post course completion. This helps ensure rural communities receive the benefit of the additional training and development sponsored through the HWSP.
A memorandum of understanding will be put in place prior to the receipt of any funding and will outline any return of service obligations.
Still not sure or have a question?
If you have any questions or wish to discuss your eligibility, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We also have a comprehensive FAQ section above.