Allied Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs Postgraduate Scholarships

The Victorian Department of Health (the Department) is offering Allied Health and Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) postgraduate scholarships of up to $13,000 to eligible allied health and AOD workers employed (or commencing employment) within Victorian public mental health or AOD services.

Scholarships can be used for postgraduate qualifications to support allied health professionals and AOD practitioners to develop their direct mental health or AOD practice.

The scholarships are available to eligible individuals who are enrolled or intending to enrol in an eligible postgraduate course in 2025.

• Applications open
  Monday 23 September 2024
• Applications close
  Monday 4 November 2024
• Scholarship recipients advised of outcome
  From mid-December 2024

The following eligibility criteria applies, applicants should assess their eligibility prior to applying.

• Mental health allied health professionals
  The applicant must be working in a state-funded mental health service (including those delivered by non-government organisations). Applicants must be qualified in one of the following disciplines:
  — youth worker
  — social worker
  — occupational therapist
  — psychologist
  — counsellor
  — other allied health professional (including but not limited to clinical pharmacist, speech pathologist, exercise physiologist, physiotherapist, dietitian, art therapist or music therapist).
  Please note: individuals qualified in an allied health discipline but working in generic, psychosocial or case management roles can apply.
• AOD practitioners
  The applicant must be working in a state-funded AOD service (including those delivered by non-government organisations)
• Applicants must have at least two years’ cumulative experience working in their discipline in their current sector
• Applicants must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen
• Applicants must be enrolled or intending to enroll in an eligible postgraduate qualification for 2025 course commencement. Proof of enrolment to commence studies in 2025 will be required by ACN prior to any payment of scholarship funds.*
• Applicants must be able to provide a recommendation of support from their line-manager and/or discipline senior confirming:
  — their relationship to applicant.
  — length of employment in the sector and if they work at 0.5 FTE or more
  — that they support the applicant’s learning (e.g., through study leave, flexible workload, etc.)
  — confirmation that they have read the application and endorse what has been said
  Applicants will be prompted to upload this in their application during the ACN’s application process and a template letter is available within the application form on the ACN website.

*Please note: Applicants who have already commenced their studies in 2024 or prior are ineligible for this scholarship.

The following course eligibility applies, applicants should ensure that they have reviewed this content to determine eligibility before submitting an application:

• The course must classify as level 8 or higher under the Australian Qualifications Framework. This includes:
  — Graduate Certificates
  — Graduate Diplomas
  — Master Degrees
  — Doctorates.
• The course must be delivered by a university or accredited higher education provider <https://www.teqsa.gov.au/national-register> as outlined by the Australian Government’s Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). You can search universities using their register.
• The course must lead to a postgraduate qualification that advances the applicant’s knowledge, skills and capacity to provide effective mental health or AOD treatment care or support.
• The postgraduate qualification should either:
  — focus on direct clinical practical skills
  OR
  — build the necessary capability to confidently progress your career across your sector and to influence positive change.

Scholarships of up to $13,000 will be available to contribute to the course fees of any eligible postgraduate course, provided this amount does not exceed 90 per cent of the total course fees. Successful applicants will be required to contribute a minimum of 10 per cent of total course fees.

Please make sure, when applying, to indicate the full course costs associated with your chosen qualification.