Health education scholarships
The Australian Government provides health workforce education support through several scholarship programs. The majority of these are managed within the Health Workforce Division of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Various state and territory health departments also offer scholarships for students as well as qualified health professionals.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholarships
There are several scholarships that are specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, available through the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, including: The Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme (PHMSS), the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme (ATSIPSS), and the Australian Rotary Indigenous Health Scholarship Program. Essentially, these scholarships aim to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ participation in tertiary education and the health workforce. University Departments of Rural Health (UDRH) may offer financial assistance to students whilst on placement to cover travel, living and accommodation costs. Some UDRHs may also offer scholarships for students from their regions.
Information on a range of scholarship opportunities is included in the list below. Please note this list is not exhaustive and the NHRA do not take responsibility for the accuracy of the data.
If an organisation who provides scholarships would like to be included in this list, please contact the NRHA at [email protected]
Scholarships by profession
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Aurora Education Foundation and Cancer Australia
- First Nations Cancer Scholarship (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Professionals pursuing cancer-related study/research)
aurorafoundation.com.au/cancer-scholarship/
Australian Dental Association (ADA)
- ADA Dental Study Grants (First Nations)
adadhf.org.au/scholarships-and-grants/first-nations-study-grants - ADA Dental Health Foundation First Nations Study Grants
adadhf.org.au/scholarships-and-grants/first-nations-study-grants
Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA)
- The Roberta Skyes Scholarship
aida.org.au/scholarships/the-roberta-sykes-scholarship/
Australian Medical Association
- Indigenous Medical Scholarship supports Indigenous students completing a medical degree.www.ama.com.au/about/indigenous-medical-scholarship
Australia Physiotherapy Association
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Physiotherapy Scholarship
australian.physio/Aboriginal-and-Torres-Strait-Islander-physiotherapy-scholarship-terms-and-conditions#:~:text=The%20APA%20Aboriginal%20and%20Torres,to%20complete%20a%20physiotherapy%20degree
Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA)
- Various scholarships are available to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students pursuing careers in allied health. Visit the website to see current opportunities.
iaha.com.au/?s=scholarship
Northern Territory Health
- NT Health Aboriginal Scholarship Scheme, aimed at first year health undergraduate students.health.nt.gov.au/careers/aboriginal-cadetship/aboriginal-workforce-development
Pharmacy Programs Administrator
- The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme aims to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies in pharmacy at an Australian University.www.ppaonline.com.au/programs/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-pharmacy-scholarship-scheme
SA Health
Allied Health
Optometry Australia
- Rural Student Placement Scholarship to assist optometry students with rural placement opportunities in Queensland or the Northern Territory.www.optometry.org.au/awards-scholarships/applications-open-for-oq-nts-rural-student-placement-scholarship/
Queensland Health
- Allied Health Scholarships www.health.qld.gov.au/ahwac/html/cet/student-scholarships
Dentistry
Australian Dental Association (ADA)
- Scholarships for dental practitioner students
ada.org.au/about/grants
Health and Medical Research
Australian Dental Research Foundation
- ADRF Research Grantsdentalresearch.org.au/grants/
Australian Government
- MRFF 2022 Frontier Health and Medical Research Grant (supports research in incurable health conditions)
business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/mrff-2022-frontier-health-and-medical-research
Franklin Women
- Franklin Women Carer’s Scholarship (for health and medical researchers with caring responsibilities)
franklinwomen.com.au/scholarship/
Nursing and Midwifery
Australian College of Midwives
- A variety of scholarship opportunities are available through ACM Branches across Australia.
midwives.org.au/Web/Web/Professional-Development/Scholarships.aspx?hkey=dd5887ca-a0e7-47a2-b3c3-ade52ae12878
Australian College of Nursing
- Leaders Mindset Series Scholarships
www.acn.edu.au/scholarships
Australian College of Nurse Practitioners
- The Primary Care Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship
www.acnp.org.au/pcnmsp
Health Education Training Agency (HETI)
- Diploma of Nursing Rural Travel Scholarship Incentivewww.heti.nsw.gov.au/Placements-Scholarships-Grants/scholarships-and-grants/diploma-of-nursing-rural-travel-scholarship-incentive
- New Graduate Nursing and Midwifery Support Incentive
Australian Nursing Memorial Centre Scholarships
- Vivian Bullwinkel Award
- Betty Jeffery Award
- ANMC and Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women
- ANMC Mental Health Scholarship
- ANMC Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurse / Midwife Scholarship
- ANMC Commemorative Scholarship
- Beth Cuthbertson Scholarship
- Michael Dent Scholarship
- Prince Henry’s Affiliates Scholarship
- Rosemary Norman Grants
- ‘Babe’ Norman Scholarship
australiannursesmemorialcentre.org.au/index.php/scholarships/#michael-dent
Partners in Care Together
- Winnie May Nursing Scholarship
partnersincaretogether.org.au/winniemay
Royal Flying Doctor Service
- Midwifery Scholarships
www.flyingdoctor.org.au/qld/careers/scholarships/
SA Health
- Scholarship and study assistance opportunities for nurses and midwives
www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/Public+Content/SA+Health+Internet/Clinical+Resources/Clinical+governance+and+leadership/Nursing+and+Midwifery+Office/Scholarship+and+study+assistance+opportunities/
WA Health
- A range of scholarships for Nursing and Midwifery students studying in Western Australia
www.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/Nursing-and-Midwifery-Office/Scholarships-and-Financial-Assistance/Scholarships/Scholarships-offered
Universities
- Individual universities may offer health scholarships
www.qut.edu.au/study/fees-and-scholarships/scholarships/garawa-nursing-scholarship
Medical (Doctors and Medical Students)
Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
- Joseph Epstein Scholarship
- Foundational Emergency Medicine Training Program Scholarship (for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori medical practitioners
- Global Emergency Care Scholarship
- Conference Scholarship
acem.org.au/Content-Sources/Advancing-Emergency-Medicine/ACEM-Scholarships,-Awards-and-Grants/Scholarship
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
- Rural Procedural Grant Program
www.racgp.org.au/the-racgp/faculties/rural/rural-procedural-grants
Royal College of Surgeons
- The Williams Family Grant
- Aziz Hamza Rural Surgery Grant
- Rural Junior Doctors Surgical Skills Course Grant
- Rural Surgery Fellowship for Provincial Surgeons
www.surgeons.org/Resources/Member-benefits/scholarships-and-grants-program/all-scholarships-and-grants
Rural Doctors Association (RDA) NSW
- Dr. Andrew Egan Rural Medical Scholarship is open to medical students from rural NSW who have relocated to study at university in NSW or ACT, and who currently are in their 2nd year of medicine.
www.rdansw.com.au/NSW/_NSW/About/Dr-Andrew-Egan-Rural-Medical-Scholarship.aspx?hkey=9039f746-8f0b-45e3-90a5-7b9a64eb0098
Rural Doctors Network
- RDN Practice Sustainability Grant Program
nswrdn.my.site.com/sp/s/services/practice-sustainability-grant/
Pharmacy
Pharmacy Programs Administrator
- Rural Support Programs (for pharmacy students and pharmacists) www.ppaonline.com.au/programs/rural-support-programs
- Rural Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme www.ppaonline.com.au/programs/rural-support-programs/rural-pharmacy-scholarship-scheme-2
- Intern Incentive Allowance for Rural Pharmacies www.ppaonline.com.au/programs/rural-support-programs/intern-incentive-allowance-for-rural-pharmacies
- Rural Pharmacy Scholarship Mentor Scheme www.ppaonline.com.au/programs/rural-support-programs/rural-pharmacy-scholarship-mentor-scheme
General Health Professions (Multiple Roles)
Australian Rotary Health
- Scholarships available for Indigenous Health, Rural Medicine and Rural Nursing.
australianrotaryhealth.org.au/applications-how-to-apply/program-scholarships/ - Mental Health Grant Applications
australianrotaryhealth.org.au/applications-how-to-apply/
Country Education Foundation of Australia
- CEF Scholarships Guide: Search tool for scholarships by health profession, state, and university.
cef.org.au/search-for-scholarships/
CRANAplus
- Links to CRANAplus and other rural health scholarships
crana.org.au/professional-support/awards-scholarships-grants
Department of Education (Commonwealth)
- Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships (RRES) (open to all health professions)
www.education.gov.au/rres
National Rural Health Student Network
- Links to scholarship opportunities offered by a range of organisations
nrhsn.org.au/resources-2/scholarships/
Northern Territory Health
- A list of organisations that offer scholarships for students undertaking clinical placements is listed online.
health.nt.gov.au/careers/student-placements/student-clinical-placements-scholarships
NSW Rural Doctors Network (RDN)
- RDN Go Rural Trip (for nursing students)
www.nswrdn.com.au/site/gorural - Outreach Student Placement Program (for nursing students)
www.nswrdn.com.au/ospp
NSW Health
- Information on and links to NSW Health-managed rural scholarships and other rural scholarships.
www.health.nsw.gov.au/careers/imagine-rural/Pages/rural-scholarships.aspx
Queensland Health
- Queensland Health Mental Health Scholarship Scheme
www.health.qld.gov.au/qcmhl/mhscho
Royal Flying Doctors Service
- Links to state-based RFDS scholarship programs
www.flyingdoctor.org.au/careers/scholarships/
Rural Health Pro
- Rural Health Pro is a search tool providing an extensive list of funding opportunities available through various organisations, universities and government departments that promote rural health.
www.ruralhealthpro.org/s/grants-and-funding
Rural Workforce Agencies
- Links to each state and NT based Rural Workforce Agency, where there is information on bursary scholarships and grant opportunities.
rwanetwork.com.au/
SA Health
- A variety of scholarships are available for people living in regional areas who demonstrate a strong commitment to continued professional practice in regional and rural areas of South Australia.
www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/Public%20Content/SA%20Health%20Internet/Careers/Working%20for%20SA%20Health/Our%20services/Working%20in%20regional%20SA/Regional%20Health%20Scholarships/Regional%20health%20scholarships
Tasmanian Government Department of Health
- Links to various scholarship opportunities for a range of health professional students
www.health.tas.gov.au/careers/student-opportunities/scholarships
Universities
- Search for more scholarships available through QUTwww.qut.edu.au/study/fees-and-scholarships/scholarships/browse?study-level_key=Any&student-type_key=Any&study-area-broad_key=Health&eligibility-citizenship_key=Any&eligibility-criteria_key=Any&query=
Victorian Department of Health
- Links to various scholarship opportunities for a range of health professional students
www.health.vic.gov.au/health-workforce
WA Country Health Service
- Search a range of scholarship and grant opportunities available to health professionals working in rural and remote Western Australia, or student health professionals committed to rural health.
www.wacountry.health.wa.gov.au/Our-workforce/Scholarships-and-grants#:~:text=Here%20you%20can%20find%20a%20range%20of%20scholarships%20and%20grants
Ended scholarships
RAMUS
The Rural Australia Medical Undergraduate Scholarships Scheme (RAMUS) was a scholarship program funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and administered by the National Rural Health Alliance. It operated from 2000 and ended in 2023.
During its operation, RAMUS supported 2,500 students from rural backgrounds to complete a medical degree. In addition to meeting rural background criteria, scholarship recipients were selected based on financial need and a demonstrated commitment to working in rural Australia.
Although the scholarship is no longer active, RAMUS continues to contribute to the rural medical workforce and rural healthcare outcomes. RAMUS provides a strong evidence-informed foundation for future investment in rural healthcare scholarships.