NURSES ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR MENTAL HEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS
27th September, 2007
Places are still available for qualified nurses in the local area looking to forge a career in mental health, Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss said today.Mr Truss said the Australian Government has made 38 scholarships worth $10,000 a year each available to support qualified nurses to undertake postgraduate training in mental health.
Applications for the second round of nursing awards under the Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme close on 12 October, an extension from 28 September.
Another stream of the scholarship scheme provides scholarships for people undertaking eligible postgraduate training in clinical psychology. A total of 105 full-time and part-time scholarships for both streams were awarded in the first round of the scheme.
“This scholarship scheme is one of several measures funded in last year’s Budget by the Australian Government as part of its $1.9 billion commitment to national mental health services,” Mr Truss said.
“It provides a great opportunity for talented nurses to specialise in a growing and much needed field, with funding of $10,000 per year for each year of full-time study in an approved course.”
Mr Truss said that by drawing more nurses and health professionals from the region into mental health, the scholarships would improve the quality of services for local people with mental health problems.
The Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA) manages the mental health nursing scholarships, in close collaboration with the Australian Nursing Federation and the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.
Students interested in undertaking postgraduate studies in mental health nursing in 2008 should apply to the RCNA. Further information and application packages are available through the RCNA scholarships web site at www.rcna.org.au/pages/scholarships.php or by calling 1800 770 562.
Applications for the scholarships in clinical psychology will open later in the year. Further information will be available through the APS web site at www.psychology.org.au
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