Health Workforce Scholarship Program
The Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) provides scholarships and bursaries to help health professionals in rural and remote Australia retain and enhance their skills, capacity and scope of practice. The Program is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, administered in New South Wales by Rural Doctors Network (RDN).
The HWSP is available to medical, nursing, midwifery, allied health, dental and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals providing primary health care in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) sector, non-government organisations and private practice.
HWSP Current Status:
HWSP - Round 1 - July 2024
Rural Doctors Network (RDN) has received funding to commence Round 1 of the Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) for 2024-2025.
The RDN Service Portal will be open from Monday 1 July for applicants to submit new applications.
As per our guidelines there will be no retrospective costs covered and all activity needs to be completed by 30 June 2025.
Who is eligible for HWSP?
You must meet the eligibility requirements to apply. These requirements are set out in detail in the Applicant Guidelines (updated July 2024). Please read these carefully before commencing an application. You can also read the HWSP Frequently Asked Questions.
What funding is available for HWSP?
The HWSP offers two types of funding:
- Scholarships: A payment up to $10,000 per year, for up to two years, toward the cost of completing a postgraduate course leading to a postgraduate qualification
- Bursaries: A payment up to $10,000 (maximum of $10,000 in total in one year) for professional development and upskilling course fees and associated accommodation and travel-related expenses.
What can you study?
RDN's annual Health Workforce Needs Assessment (HWNA) forms the basis for determining the allocation of funding under the HWSP. The HWNA has identified specific upskilling and training areas as a priority for NSW. These are detailed in the Applicant Guidelines and on the HWSP FAQ page.
Application process for HWSP
Before you apply you will need to:
- Assess your eligibility by reading the application guidelines
- Set up an RDN Service Portal account
- Collect your supporting documentation
- Submit your application via the RDN Service Portal
- You can check the progress of your application at any time on the RDN Service Portal
Managing your application:
-
To manage an existing application, visit the RDN Service Portal
-
All applications are assessed against the needs of the community as identified in the HWNA. Scholarships and bursaries will be awarded to those who wish to undertake study and training that help to fill a health service gap or address the health needs of specific communities.
Questions?
We can help. Please first check the HWSP FAQ page. If you require more information, please contact the HWSP team on hwsp@nswrdn.com.au or call us on 02 4924 8000.
MORE INFORMATION