Joint Release
The Hon Nicola Roxon MP
Minister for Health and Ageing
The Hon Warren Snowdon MP
Minister for Indigenous, Rural and Regional Health
Nursing Scholars, Two expert organisations with proven track records have been appointed by the Gillard Government to administer the Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship and Support Scheme (NAHSSS).
The consolidated NAHSSS invests more than $100 million over four years to support undergraduate and postgraduate study, clinical placements and continuing professional development activities for nursing and allied health students and professionals.
Following an open selection process, the Royal College of Nursing Australia (RCNA) has been appointed as administrator of nursing scholarships under the NAHSSS.
The College has a proven track record in managing Commonwealth nursing scholarship programs, and the expertise and experience to deliver on this important workforce component for the health of Australians in our regions and remote areas.
Allied health scholarships under the NAHSSS will be administered by the peak rural allied health organisation, Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health Inc (SARRAH), which is also experienced and possesses expertise in managing allied health scholarships for the Australian Government.
Nursing scholarships will continue to support the nursing profession including nurse practitioners, practice nurses and mental health nurses.
The NAHSSS will also support new professional development and clinical placement scholarships for nurses who work in or wish to be experience a placement in Aboriginal Medical Services (as part of the COAG Indigenous Health National Partnership Initiatives) and Midwifery Credentialling Scholarships (as part of the Maternity Services Workforce Package).
More information is available on the RCNA website at www.rcna.org.au.
The allied health component will continue to support students and professionals across many disciplines such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, speech pathology and occupational therapy.
The NAHSSS was recently boosted with further support for the allied health workforce, following the Government’s announcement of $6.5 million over four years for an additional 100 rural clinical placement scholarships a year for allied health students.
Applications for the allied health clinical placement scholarships opened in June 2010 for placements commencing in 2010-11. More information is available from the SARRAH website at www.sarrah.org.au.
The rural allied health and nursing workforces will be further supported through the 2010-11 Budget allocation of:
- $28.8 million to establish a rural nursing locum scheme providing around 750 nursing placements a year
- $5.3 million to establish a rural allied health locum scheme supporting 100 allied health placements a year.
For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220
