Federal MP Darren Chester is urging Gippslanders to take advantage of a $50.2 million scholarship program that aims to upskill the nation’s nurses and midwives.
The Primary Care Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Program will provide 1,850 postgraduate scholarships over four years for registered nurses and midwives to become nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives in primary and aged care settings.
Mr Chester said upskilling professionals across the primary health care system would strengthen the health workforce to provide improved access in regions like Gippsland.
“We have a growing problem with access to health and aged care services in our region, and upskilling locals is part of the solution,” Mr Chester said.
“Nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives are key to meeting the workforce demands in the primary care and aged care health sector.
“By helping to grow the number and skills of nurses and midwives, the Primary Care Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Program will help ensure Australians have access to the health care they need, wherever they live.
“The program will strengthen the health workforce in rural and remote communities by providing preference to scholarship applicants currently living or working in these areas.”
The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP), the peak national organisation for nurse practitioners, will manage the Primary Care Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Program.
In 2024–25, the program will provide 175 graduate certificate or graduate diploma scholarships and 175 masters’ scholarships, after which 250 of each scholarship type will be available each year until 2026–27.
Mr Chester is encouraging local eligible nurses and midwives interested in upskilling to apply for the Primary Care Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Program.
“Attracting and retaining nurses and midwives in primary and aged care in our regions has proven to be a challenge, but this program will greatly contribute to strengthening our regional health workforce, improving the capacity, quality, distribution and mix of the primary care and midwifery health workforce as well as significantly increasing the number of qualified nurse practitioners to support nurse-led clinics,” Mr Chester said.
“Regional, rural and remote health is built on the commitment, the skill, the resilience and the expertise of its workforce, and we want this sector to grow.”
Scholarships are now open until August 25, 2024.
To apply, go to https://www.acnp.org.au/pcnmsp. For more information about the Primary Care Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Program, go to https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/primary-care-nursing-and-midwifery-scholarship-program.
