2010 NURSING AND MIDWIFERY INNOVATIONS SCHOLARSHIPS

Nursing Scholars, The Nursing and Midwifery Office NSW Department of Health is offering scholarships of up to $15,000 to encourage participation by nurses and midwives in leading innovation within the public health system.

The aim is for patients to have a better experience by ensuring services are of a high quality, appropriate, safe, available when and where needed and coordinated to meet individual needs.

Who is eligible to apply for an Innovations Scholarship?

The scholarships are open to nurses and midwives working in the NSW Public Health system.

What is an innovative project?

An innovative approach is one that has not been tried before; or a new approach to an existing problem or issue.

The project should focus on patient centred care where patient safety is enhanced; the patient has a better experience and is informed and involved in decisions.

Your application should demonstrate how the innovation will enhance nursing or midwifery practice to improve service delivery and patient care.

Programs that will assist in identifying areas or priority include:

• Caring Together - The Health Action Plan for NSW
• A New Direction for NSW Department of Health - Strategic Plan Towards 2010
• Essentials of Care Program
• Mental Health Nursing including Drug and Alcohol Services

If you have not been involved in preparing a submission for an innovations scholarship before, you are encouraged to seek assistance from other nurses in your Area Health Service who have experience in preparing submissions.

Scholarship Conditions

• Applicant teams must primarily be nurses or midwives employed by the NSW public health system.
• At least 80% of the team must be employees of the NSW public health system.
• Funding will not be provided for services that are considered to be core business of the Area Health Service.
• A word limit of 2000 words or less.
• Applicants may be either individuals or team members.
• The lead person must be a nurse or midwife who is a full-time or permanent part-time employee of the NSW Public Health System.
• Funding cannot be used for tertiary education or other courses.
• Generally, up to 10% of the funding requested can be allocated to equipment.
• A letter of support for the project is required from the Director of Nursing and Midwifery or Health Service Manager.
• The team leader is responsible for dissemination of the outcomes of the project to other AHS's.
• Submissions previously funded by a NSW Department of Health Nursing and Midwifery scholarship fund will not be eligible.
• The innovation is to be carried out within 12-months of receiving the funding.
• Successful applicants will be required to provide progress summary 6-months after project commencement.
• The Nursing and Midwifery Office may publish the innovation on the Department of Health's website and in newsletters.

Planning your Project

Developing a project plan is the beginning of any project. Take time in the early stage to define exactly what you want to do and how to do it.

Five Steps in planning your project

Step 1 - Why?

What do you want this project to do?

What is your aim?

The aim should be an overall statement of what you want the project to do.

Tips

• Be specific; one aim is best. It will help focus your ideas
• Identify the improvements
• Will new ways of doing things continue after the project?
• Can it be used across the health system?

Step 2 - What?

Ask yourself what are the project's objectives and expected outcome? An objective is specific and should have measurable outcomes and time lines. It will define exactly what it is you want to achieve and what change the project will make.

• Decide what can be achieved and set your objectives.
• Identify the results or outcomes you expect.
• Identify the resources you need.
• Include the process for evaluation in your plan. This way you can gather information as you go along rather than waiting until the end.
• Meet on a regular basis with team members as new issues may arise.

Step 3 - How?

Establish the outline of the project.

• Think about the different parts of the project and how they will take shape
• From this you can develop a detailed work plan.
• Identify the resources you will need e.g. money, people, materials etc.
• Decide how you will identify and measure the outcomes.

Step 4 - Who?

Think about who should be involved in the project.

• Decide who will manage the project and how it will be managed
• Ensure that your AHS will support the project.
• You may like to find a mentor who you can bounce ideas off.
• If you want to employ a project officer allow time for recruitment.
• Make sure people involved in the project are committed.
• To ensure that people are supportive and committed to the project involve them in the planning stage.

Step 5 - When?

Make decisions about the time frame for the project. Once you have decided what the activities are you can prepare a timetable for them. Chart the activities on a timeline.

Identify important dates on the calendar. These will include:

• Significant activities
• Important dates e.g. progress report and deadlines.
• Set aside enough time for each activity
• Plan time to review the progress
• If the project can be used throughout the health system plan time to distribute to other AHS and develop a communication plan.

Develop a project plan

Remember:

• Be specific and keep it simple
• Work in a team
• Allocate tasks
• Gain support from your Director of Nursing and Midwifery or Health Services Manager for your application.
• Be clear about your intention
• The project may have many parts, ask yourself what is the overall aim?
• What is the specific thing/s that you want to achieve? What will be the results of the project's activities? What will change? Who will benefit?
• Consider how you will go about achieving what it is that you want to do.
• How will you know that you have done what you set out to do?
• You must be able to identify the result or outcome of the project.

Open and Close Dates

Open: 2^nd July 2010

Closes: 27^th September 2010

Application Form

Please send your completed application form to:

NSW Department of Health
Nursing and Midwifery Office
Scholarship Officer
Locked Mail Bag 961
North Sydney NSW 2059

Scholarships for study outside the UK/Travel Awards

Thouron Awards for Postgraduate Study at the University of Pennsylvania

Nursing Scholars, Graduates of British universities receive support for up to two years for a graduate (post-graduate) degree program at the University of Pennsylvania. Penn, an Ivy League institution, is one of the world s leading research universities. With 12 schools on one contiguous campus in Philadelphia, it offers a wide range of postgraduate courses in the Schools of Arts & Sciences, Communication, Dental Medicine, Design, Education, Engineering and Applied Science, Architecture & Regional Planning, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Social Policy, and Veterinary Medicine, as well as the Wharton School of Business. Typically, 6 to10 Awards are made each year to British graduates.

Further details on postgraduate courses offered at the University of Pennsylvania are available at http://www.upenn.edu/grad/gradgroups.htm

Further information for UK applicants available at http://www.thouronaward.org/index.php?action=PublicUKApplicantsDisplay

St Andrews Society of the State of New York Scholarships 2010/11

Two Scholarships, of not less than $20,000 each, will be available in 2011. Preference will be given to candidates who have no previous experience of the United States and for whom a period of study there can be expected to be a life changing experience. Selection will be on the basis of an all-round assessment, including personality and academic achievement. The Scholarship will be tenable from September 2011 to May 2012 at a university in the US within a radius of 250 miles from New York City, or within the area of Washington DC. Where a student cannot find a course for his/her special subject of study within this geographical area, the Society will consider allowing the Scholarship to be held at another university in the US.

Candidates must be Scottish by birth or descent, and will be expected to have current knowledge of Scotland and the Scottish tradition. Candidates must also be:

EITHER graduates of a Scottish university or of Oxford/Cambridge, who have completed their first degree course (so as to be qualified to graduate) not earlier than 2010.

OR students of a Scottish university or of Oxford/Cambridge, who expect to complete their first degree course (so as to be qualified to graduate) in 2011.

An honours degree is not essential.

Under existing arrangements, each of the Scottish universities is asked to nominate one candidate although it might, in exceptional circumstances, be permitted to submit two candidates of equal merit.

Application forms and further particulars can be obtained from Ms Shirley Kirk, Corporate Services, Level 2, McCance Building (s.kirk@strath.ac.uk)

Closing date for applications is 20 December 2010.

FINN RANDALL OPEN TRAVEL AWARD

In memory of Finn Randall - an alumnus of the University and an intrepid traveller - an award was established to assist a registered undergraduate student of the University with the cost of a particular scheme of travel which is considered to be the most enterprising and the most relevant to his/her course of study. It is not to be used solely as paying for the travel costs.

The amount of the award normally in the region of £300.

Application forms for 2010 will be available in November.

Royal Society of Edinburgh JM Lessells Travel Scholarships

Applications are invited for JM Lessells Travel Scholarships from honours or higher degree engineering graduates of Scottish HE Institutions who wish to study some aspect of their profession outwith the UK. All branches of Engineering are eligible for consideration, including Computer and Software Engineering. In exceptional circumstances applications will also be considered from candidates who have first degrees in related subjects and substantial postgraduate experience in a field of engineering.

The value of the Scholarships is £1,250 per month, pro-rata. The Scholar will be appointed for any period up to a maximum of one year, although visits of approx 2-5 months are strongly preferred. Acceptance of a Scholarship implies a willingness to spend at least 2 years in the UK following the period of tenure. Visits of less than 2 months will not normally be considered. Application forms and further details from: www.royalsoced.org.uk and trickard@royalsoced.org.uk

US-UK FULBRIGHT COMMISSION

Each year between 10 and 16 awards area offered to UK citizens for the first year of postgraduate or doctoral study, or for 'special student research', in any accredited US institution. Successful candidates will work with the Fulbright Commission and the Institute of International Education (IIE) to find the right course and department for them.

Full details including timeline and application forms may be obtained from www.fulbright.co.uk

MAC ROBERTSON TRAVELLING SCHOLARSHIP 2010/11

INFORMATION: The aim of this Scholarship programme is to provide funding which will enrich and further the awardholder's experience and research achievements. It will allow scholars to undertake a course of research study preferably (although not necessarily) outwith Scotland for up to a maximum of one year from the date of the award.

VALUE: The awards can vary and the number and value of the awards allocated each year will be at the discretion of the Award Panel. The award is designed to contribute towards placement expenses but it is NOT intended as a contribution towards tuition fee costs or routine living expenses; for conference attendance; students completing their research studies; essential fieldwork; funding for prospective research students.

ELIGIBIITY: This Scholarship is open to all postgraduate research students currently registered and fully participating in the community of the University of Strathclyde or Glasgow. It is available to research students from all countries and from any academic discipline who have already shown academic distinction and promise during the term of their research studies.

COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS should be returned to Shona Cameron, Postgradaute Research Office,Room 101D, Graham Hills Building, 50 George Street, Glasgow G1 1QE by Friday 30 April 2010.

HOW TO APPLY: Application form/further information is available at http://www.strath.ac.uk/igo/postgraduatescholarships/award_27682_en.html

Kennedy Scholarships/Frank Knox Fellowships 2010/2011

KENNEDY SCHOLARSHIPS - These scholarships offer attractive opportunities for graduate study or research in the USA at Harvard or MIT. The scholarships cover tuition and health service fees, the cost of travel to/from the USA and provide an allowance of $22,000 for the year plus an additional travel grant. Applicants must be UK citizens at the time of application, who are also ordinarily resident in the UK, who have spent at least 2 out of the last 5 years studying at a university in the UK and who will have graduated before taking up their scholarship. Further information is available at http://www.kennedytrust.org.uk The trustees are keen to attract a strong and diverse field of candidates from throughout the UK and to encourage outstanding applicants across a broad range of subjects.

FRANK KNOX FELLOWSHIPS - Fellowships are available for five graduate students from the UK to study for up to 2 consecutive years in one of the Faculties of Harvard. The value of each Fellowship is at least $23,000 plus tuition and health service fees. Further information about the fellowships can be found on http://www.frankknox.harvard.edu

The Selection Panel is keen to receive applications from outstanding candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds and academic interests.

This award is closed for 2010.

Hettie C. Hopkins Care of the Elderly Nursing Scholarship

Aims:	To support nurses in Wales with statutory qualifications in nursing and wish to pursue a project associated with the care of the elderly.
Description:	An annual award to fund nurses in Wales that wish to pursue a project associated with the care of the elderly.
*Type:	Projects
*Duration:	Unspecified
Funding:	Funds will help to support the costs of undertaking a project.
*Amount:	Unspecified (Estimated total funds: £0)
Closing Date:	31 March 2011
Comments:	Closing date for applications is 31st March annually. For more information about the Scholarship, please contact the RCN Welsh Board.
Restrictions:	Only open to nurses in Wales who hold statutory qualifications in nursing.
Grant Contact:	RCN Welsh Board Phone : 029 2075 1373 Ty Maeth King George V Drive East Cardiff CF4 4XZ
Grant Web Page:	Hettie C. Hopkins Care of the Elderly Nursing Scholarship

Nursing Scholars, * These values are categorised in order to facilitate searching

Vanguard Scholarship Program

Nursing Scholars, sponsored by Vanguard, provides merit-based scholarships of up to $10,000 to minority students pursuing studies in business, finance, economics, accounting, information technology or the liberal arts. To be considered, the student must be a racial minority, be entering their senior year of undergraduate study in the fall of 2010, be enrolled full-time in a four-year accredited college or university in the United States, and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The student must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.
Deadline: The 2010 postmark deadline to submit the application was November 30, 2009.
Application Info: Information is available at sms.scholarshipamerica.org/vanguard

Commonwealth Undergraduate Remote & Rural Nursing Scholarship Scheme (CURRNS)

Nursing Scholars, The Commonwealth Undergraduate Remote and Rural Nursing Scholarship (CURRNS) Scheme is one of a range of Federal Government initiatives aimed at increasing the number of nurses living and working in remote and rural Australia.

For many school leavers and students in remote and rural Australia, the lack of financial support can be a major obstacle to obtaining a university education. However, those students and school leavers interested in pursuing a career in remote and rural nursing can now be assisted through the scheme.

CURRNS is a national scheme providing remote and rural nursing students with scholarships to assist with accommodation, travel and living expenses incurred while studying at university.CURRNS also provides a range of support measures to remote and rural nursing students, including additional financial assistance, mentor programs and Indigenous cultural awareness training.The scholarships are worth $10,000 annually for each year of studies, up to a maximum of $30,000, and are available to remote and rural students undertaking undergraduate nursing at a tertiary level. Funds are payable each year of study provided that recipients continue to meet the eligibility criteria.

There are 110 scholarships available each year and of these at least 10 are specifically designated for awarding to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants. The Scheme is administered through Royal College of Nursing, Australia. Eligibility: The Scheme is open to students with an Australian remote or rural background who are entering or currently enrolled as a full-time student in an entry to practice accredited undergraduate nursing course at an Australian university.Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents. They must have had a principle home address in an identified Australian remote or rural area for a substantial period of time.Preference is given to students who will undertake their studies at a rural university campus, where there is one available.

Selection: Eligible applicants are assessed against selection criteria to determine their rural experience and financial need. Income tests apply to determine those students in the most financial need. Payments will only commence after the recipient has provided proof of enrolment in an undergraduate nursing degree.

Contacting RCNA about Scholarships
Email: scholarships@rcna.org.au
Freecall numbers:
1800 11 72 62 - Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Puggy Hunter Memorial Schemes;
1800 11 22 40 - Re-entry and Upskilling Scheme;
1800 11 66 96 - Aged Care Scheme.

COMMONWEALTH AGED CARE NURSING SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

For more information, visit website:

www.rcna.org.au

Free call 1800 061660

Email: scholarships@rcna.org.au

Postgraduate Mental Health Nurse Scholarships - Semester 2 2010

Postgraduate Nurse Scholarships

Nursing Scholars, For 2010-2011, public health services will receive a further scholarship quota to allow them to prioritise clinical areas of practice for scholarships based on local service and workforce development needs. Scholarships assist nurses with the costs associated with undertaking postgraduate studies.

More information about postgraduate scholarships for Semester 1 2011 will be provided when the round opens (late 2010).

Postgraduate Mental Health Nurse Scholarships - Semester 2 2010

The Mental Health, Drugs and Regions (MHDR) Division, Department of Health (DH), is offering scholarships of up to $3,000 for registered nurses working in the Victorian public health sector to support postgraduate study in mental health nursing.

Scholarship funds are a contribution towards the cost of undertaking postgraduate studies in Semester 2 of 2010, including tuition fees, student contributions, study loans (HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP), books and equipment, travel required to attend lectures and clinical placements, child care and other related study costs.

Further information will be available shortly via the following web link: http://health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/careers.htm

2010 Nurse Practitioner (NP) scholarships

The 2010 NP scholarship round has been completed.

A Victorian Nurse Practitioner Project (VNPP) Scholarship round will open in late October 2010 for nurses undertaking courses in 2011 that lead to endorsement as a NP. Go to the Nurse Practitioner scholarship page.

2009-2010 Postgraduate Nurse Scholarships

In Semester 1 2010, nurses applied directly to their employers (for public health services) for more postgraduate nurse scholarships. The scholarship quota allocated to public health services was based on nursing FTE (with 40% of the general scholarship pool allocated to rural health services).

General scholarships were then awarded to nurses employed by the public health service who were undertaking studies in a range of practice areas depending on the employers local workforce needs.

Additional scholarships in targeted practice areas such as NICU/PICU, critical care, perioperative and midwifery practice were allocated based on the departments system-wide service and workforce priorities.

In addition, 115 scholarships were awarded in the area of mental health and 15 scholarships in Maternal and Child Health were funded through the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

Summary of scholarship distribution for Semester 1 2010 (excl NP scholarships)

Metropolitan distribution	General	Midwifery	Peri-operative	Critical Care	NICU/PICU	total
St Vincents Health	7		1	3		11
Western Health	7	1	1	3		12
Northern Health	5		1	2		8
Eastern Health	11		2	2		15
Alfred Health	11		2	5		17
Melbourne Health	10		2	5		17
Peninsula Health	7	1	1	3		12
Southern Health	18	1	3	8	5	35
Mercy Public Hospitals Inc.	4		1		4	9
The Royal Children's Hospital	4		1		10	15
The Royal Women's Hospital	3		1		6	10
The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear	1		1			2
Austin Health	9		2	5		16
Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute	2		1			3
Subtotal	97	3	20	36	25	181
Regional distribution
Barwon	13		2	3		18
Gippsland	13	1	2	2		18
Grampains	13		2	1		16
Hume	13		2	1		16
Loddon Mallee	13	1	2	1		17
Subtotal	65	2	10	8	0	85
Total scholarships	162	5	30	44	25	266

Prospective Students/Scholarship applicants

From Semester 1 2010:

• In metropolitan health services, applications for scholarships are now made directly to your employer.
• In rural regions, contact your health service or Director of Nursing for information about your regional scholarship application process.

Further information

For information relating to postgraduate study contact your local university.

Enquires can be directed to Nurse Policy on (03) 9096 7528 or email at: nursepolicy@health.vic.gov.au

Leading Organisations to Run Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship Scheme

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.

These schemes allow nurses and allied health workers in rural areas to take leave to undertake professional development.

For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220