The Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care’s Health Workforce Program. The HWSP is managed in South Australia by Rural Doctors Workforce Agency (RDWA) and nationally by the consortium of Rural Workforce Agencies.

The HWSP aims to address identified community health care need by increasing the skills, capacity and or/scope of practice of private GPs, nurses and allied health professionals.

There are two grant streams:

• Scholarships for postgraduate study
• Bursaries for development and upskilling courses

Applicants must clearly demonstrate the community health care need that will be addressed by the upskilling or postgraduate activity they are proposing.

RDWA will offer multiple application rounds in a financial year, and grants will be awarded following assessment. Grants will only be offered to eligible applicants who meet the criteria and where there are sufficient funds available.

Supported activities

Activities must be in a further study, training or upskilling in a field of medicine, nursing, or allied health.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate how the proposed activity will meet local community needs and HWSP objectives and priorities.

Applicants can apply for one grant per round. If you have already received a grant in previous rounds, you can apply for another grant in the current round.

All activities supported through a scholarship or bursary funded by 30 June 2025 must be completed by 31 December 2026.

If you are unsure if your proposed activity is eligible for this grant, please contact us.

Eligibility

You could be eligible to apply for the HWSP if you:

• Work in an eligible location classified within MMM3-7
• Are a primary health professional in the fields of medicine, nursing and allied health, including Aboriginal health practitioners/workers.

Check your location

Health professionals employed solely by the state government (employed in a public hospital/health service), solely providing disability support services, or solely working in aged care services are not eligible for this grant.

Apply

First read the guidelines to understand eligibility criteria, the application process, and return of service obligations, then complete the online application form.

Contact

Jack Barry, Administration Officer
Phone: 08 8234 8277 
Email: workforce@ruraldoc.com.au

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