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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.

 

RDN opens several application rounds in a financial year.

Applications assessed as eligible are prioritised within available funding.

Please note that submitting your application does not mean you will be offered a scholarship or bursary.

 

Round 1 2025/2026 applications are open between 01/07/2025 - 12/08/2025 for:

  • Courses that will commence on or after 01/07/2025
  • Outcome to be advised after 13/08/2025.
  • A maximum of 2 applications per person will be considered for this round.
  • Course/activity to commence within 4 months of the application
  • Please note that dates are subject to change.

 

Round 2 2025/2026 applications are open between 01/10/2025 - 12/11/2025 for:

  • Courses that will commence on or after 01/10/2025
  • Outcome to be advised after 13/11/2025.
  • A maximum of 2 applications per person will be considered for this round
  • Course/activity to commence within 4 months of the application
  • Please note that dates are subject to change.

 

Round 3 2025/2026 applications are open between 05/01/2026 - 16/02/2026 for:

  • Courses that will commence on or after 05/01/2026
  • Outcome to be advised after 17/02/2026.
  • A maximum of 2 applications per person will be considered for this round.
  • Course/activity to commence within 4 months of the application
  • Please note that dates are subject to change.

 

Round 4 2025/2026 applications are open between 01/04/2026 - 13/05/2026 for:

  • Courses that will commence on or after 01/04/2026
  • Outcome to be advised after 14/05/2026.
  • A maximum of 2 applications per person will be considered for this round.
  • Course/activity to commence within 4 months of the application
  • Please note that dates are subject to change.

READ BEFORE APPLYING

All applications are assessed against the needs of the community. 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.

Applications will be assessed based on:

  • The location of your employment and service provided.
  • Applicant criteria.
  • Proposed professional development activity.
  • Planned increase in skill, capacity and/or scope of clinical practice.
  • Meeting one or more identified primary health workforce needs; and
  • Where application rounds are oversubscribed, priority will be given to applications aiming to meet or improve the identified priority health and/or workforce needs in the HWNA.

Please note that submitting your application does not mean you will be offered a scholarship or bursary.

 

Who is eligible for HWSP?

You must meet the eligibility requirements to apply. These requirements are set out in detail in the HWSP Guidelines (updated June 2025). 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 financial 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 per financial 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 HWSP Guidelines and on the HWSP FAQ page.

 

Application process for HWSP 

Before you apply you will need to:

  1. Assess your eligibility by reading the HWSP Guidelines
  2. Set up an RDN Service Portal account
  3. Collect your supporting documentation
  4. Submit your application via the RDN Service Portal
  5. 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.

 

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