Health Workforce Scholarship Program
For a scholarship you can receive up to $10,000 per year for up to two years while completing full-time studies. A 12 month return of service is required for any scholarship over the value of $5,000. One-off bursary payments are also available up to the value of $5,000 with no return of service, to cover:
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- Reimbursement for the total cost of the course(s), conference(s) or workshop(s)
- Travel expenses and accommodation support where appropriate.
Every application is different and scholarship funding is subject to the HWSP eligibility guidelines for scholarship applicants.
All scholarship agreements must be entered into prior to 30 June 2029. Scholarships may be provided for courses that extend beyond 30 June 2029, but the study period must conclude by 30 June 2031.
Are you considering training or upskilling? Or maybe your team would benefit from a workshop or short course?
The Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) is for health professionals looking to extend their skills and services in rural and remote communities (Modified Monash Model (MMM) 3-7 locations). The HWSP offers you and your team members the opportunity to attend accredited and non-accredited:
- Workshops
- Conferences
- Short courses
- Graduate certificates
- Diplomas
- Other postgraduate qualifications
- and much more
Applications Are Closed
Participant registrations and applications will reopen in July 2026.
Basic Eligibility Criteria
Scholarships are available to eligible medical, nursing, and allied health professionals who are currently working in, or intending to work in, rural and remote communities across Tasmania.
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
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Applicants must be qualified medical, nursing, or allied health professionals, including those in training or early career stages, where applicable.
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Applicants must be servicing, or planning to service, communities in Tasmania classified as Modified Monash Model (MMM) categories 3–7. These classifications reflect regional, rural, and remote locations. If you are unsure of the MMM classification of your intended location, please refer to the FAQ section below for further information.
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Applicants must not be solely employed by the Tasmanian Government. This includes professionals working in private practice, non-government organisations, community-controlled health services, or mixed employment arrangements.
To Apply Online
Before applying, please read the Program Guidelines for full details about eligibility, application and selection criteria, funding availability, return of service obligations, and program requirements.
All applicants must complete a one-time registration to access the online portal, where applications, claims, evaluations, and program communications are managed. Applications are competitive and assessed against Tasmania’s workforce priorities, and all outcomes will be communicated via email.
Successful applicants are required to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding and meet all program conditions outlined in the guidelines.
New Applicant
- When applications are open, click the Register for HWSP button to create your account. Once submitted, you will receive an email with a link to log in and complete your Scholarship Application.
- Once submitted, you will receive an email confirming the link to login to your account and submit your Scholarship Application
Existing Applicant
Click the User Portal Access button if you have previously registered or applied for a Health Workforce Scholarship and you are needing to
- Review its progress
- Submit an expense claim
- Apply for a new scholarship or bursary
FAQs
The HWSP is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health. The program is designed to improve access to services needed in rural and remote areas across Australia by supporting an increase in skills, capacity and/or scope of practice.
There are two types of funding under this program:
- Scholarship: a payment toward the cost of completing a postgraduate course leading to a postgraduate qualification.
- Bursary: a payment for completing a short course, workshop or to attend a conference, etc. This funding may include reimbursement for the cost of both the course and travel-related expenses.
The type of funding offered will depend on the type of study undertaken.
Payments made to health professionals must be directly related to training and up-skilling health professionals who will provide services to rural and remote areas and be justifiable against the perceived workforce benefit of the training.
The following professions are eligible for the program:
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker/Practitioner
- Audiologist
- Chiropractor
- Dentist
- Diabetes Nurse Educator
- Dietitian / Nutritionist
- Exercise Physiologist
- Medical Practitioner (GP)
- Nurse
- Occupational Therapist
- Optometrist
- Osteopath
- Pharmacist
- Physiotherapist
- Podiatrist
- Psychologist
- Radiographer
- Social Worker
- Sonographer
- Speech Pathologist
The Modified Monash Model (MMM) is a geographical classification system which categorises metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas according to both geographical remoteness and town size.
The HWSP is available to health professionals located in or providing services to areas categorised as MMM 3-7.
You can find the classification of your location via the following link here.
Please click on ‘Search a location’, click the checkbox for Modified Monash Model, and select 2019 from the ‘Select a year’ drop-down menu.
You can make more than one application, to the total value of $10,000 per financial year. However, where the scholarship program is oversubscribed only one application will be considered.
If you are working in both sectors, you may be eligible to apply for the HWSP. Health professionals solely employed by the Tasmanian Department of Health or the Tasmanian Health Service are not eligible for the HWSP.
For scholarship or bursary amounts awarded over $5,000, recipients of the HWSP scholarship will be required to commit to providing the health service in the MMM 3-7 area for 12 months post course completion. This helps ensure rural communities receive the benefit of the additional training and development sponsored through the HWSP.
A memorandum of understanding will be put in place prior to the receipt of any funding and will outline any return of service obligations.
Unsure or have a question?
If you’d like to chat about your eligibility or have any questions, we’re here to help.