The Department of Health supports the MCH nursing scholarship program to attract high quality nurse-midwives to increase the capacity of Victoria’s world-class MCH nursing workforce.
The MCH Nursing scholarship provides funding of $2,800 for:
- Full-time students over one year
- Part-time students over two years
Undertaking the following courses with Federation University Australia:
- Graduate Diploma of Health, Child and Family Health Nursing
- Master of Health, Child and Family Health Nursing
The number of scholarships offered will be determined based on the number of eligible applicants that have accepted a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Priority scholarships of up to $5,500 (exc GST) per year are available for eligible Aboriginal students, students from diverse communities or students undertaking their clinical placement in areas of high workforce deficit.
About the Scholarship
The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) scholarships program was established in 2004 as a state-wide initiative to address identified workforce shortages. The scholarships provide financial support for registered nurses with midwifery qualifications currently working in the Victorian Health Sector to undertake the required postgraduate qualification at the Organisation in the field of child and family health, to enable them to practice as a MCH nurse in Victoria. The scholarship funding is provided to assist students completing their post graduate studies, with the aim of increasing the number of nurses undertaking MCH postgraduate study to become a MCH nurse.
Why the Department is Funding this Activity
The Department recognises the importance of supporting nurses registered as both Division 1 nurses and midwives currently working in the Victorian Health Sector, who wish to extend their existing academic qualifications by obtaining a post graduate qualification in the field of maternal and child health. The MCH scholarships are one of a suite of workforce attraction and development initiatives provided by the Department, to ensure that the MCH workforce has the capacity to respond to the needs of a growing and changing Victorian population, and that the supply of MCH nurses can meet demand into the future.
Scholarships
The scholarships are provided to make a contribution to accommodation and travel costs or childcare costs incurred to support study.
Commonwealth Support Place (CSP) will receive up to $2,800 in scholarship funding.
Priority Scholarships
Priority scholarships of up to $5,500 (exc GST) per year are available for eligible Aboriginal students, students from diverse communities or students undertaking their clinical placement in areas of high workforce deficit. You do not need to apply for a priority scholarship. Priority scholarship eligibility will be considered as part of the application process.
Eligibility
It is important that the MCH Nursing workforce reflects the composition of the Victorian community. The Department strongly encourages applications from eligible people of any gender identity, age, religion, ethnicity, language, socio-economic background, sexual orientation, and disability.
To be eligible to apply for the MCH Scholarship with Federation University Australia students will need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident or a permanent humanitarian visa holder
- have accepted a place as a new student and/or be enrolled as a continuing student at Federation University in one of the following courses for Semester 1, 2025:
- Graduate Diploma of Health, Child and Family Health Nursing (Federation University)
- Master of Health, Child and Family Health Nursing (Federation University)
- be currently registered as a Division 1 Registered Nurse (without restrictions) with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
- have current registration as a Midwife (without restrictions) with AHPRA
- have accepted a Commonwealth Supported Place
To be eligible for a priority scholarship, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- applicants with demonstrated financial need, including (but not limited to) applicants in receipt of a government tested low-income benefit or Health Care Card holder
- applicants who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- applicants who identify as being from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background or who speak a language other than English at home
- applicants residing in and undertaking their clinical placement in areas with high workforce deficit (Wyndham City Council, City of Melton, City of Casey)
- applicants from rural and remote regions
The number of scholarships available may vary depending on funding.
Ineligibility
You are ineligible to apply if you have previously received a MCH Nursing Scholarship from the Department of Education and Training (DET) or Department of Health (DH or DHHS).
How to Apply
Please click apply and answer the application questions.
Information Privacy Procedure
Please read the Information Privacy Procedure before entering your profile in the Scholarships and Grants portal. Entering and submitting scholarship applications will constitute your consent to using your personal information as detailed in the Information Privacy Procedure.
2025 Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Nursing Scholarship
The Department of Health supports the MCH nursing scholarship program to attract high quality nurse-midwives to increase the capacity of Victoria’s world-class MCH nursing workforce.
The MCH Nursing scholarship provides funding of $2,800 for:
- Full-time students over one year
- Part-time students over two years
Undertaking the following courses with Federation University Australia:
- Graduate Diploma of Health, Child and Family Health Nursing
- Master of Health, Child and Family Health Nursing
The number of scholarships offered will be determined based on the number of eligible applicants that have accepted a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Priority scholarships of up to $5,500 (exc GST) per year are available for eligible Aboriginal students, students from diverse communities or students undertaking their clinical placement in areas of high workforce deficit.
About the Scholarship
The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) scholarships program was established in 2004 as a state-wide initiative to address identified workforce shortages. The scholarships provide financial support for registered nurses with midwifery qualifications currently working in the Victorian Health Sector to undertake the required postgraduate qualification at the Organisation in the field of child and family health, to enable them to practice as a MCH nurse in Victoria. The scholarship funding is provided to assist students completing their post graduate studies, with the aim of increasing the number of nurses undertaking MCH postgraduate study to become a MCH nurse.
Why the Department is Funding this Activity
The Department recognises the importance of supporting nurses registered as both Division 1 nurses and midwives currently working in the Victorian Health Sector, who wish to extend their existing academic qualifications by obtaining a post graduate qualification in the field of maternal and child health. The MCH scholarships are one of a suite of workforce attraction and development initiatives provided by the Department, to ensure that the MCH workforce has the capacity to respond to the needs of a growing and changing Victorian population, and that the supply of MCH nurses can meet demand into the future.
Scholarships
The scholarships are provided to make a contribution to accommodation and travel costs or childcare costs incurred to support study.
Commonwealth Support Place (CSP) will receive up to $2,800 in scholarship funding.
Priority Scholarships
Priority scholarships of up to $5,500 (exc GST) per year are available for eligible Aboriginal students, students from diverse communities or students undertaking their clinical placement in areas of high workforce deficit. You do not need to apply for a priority scholarship. Priority scholarship eligibility will be considered as part of the application process.
Eligibility
It is important that the MCH Nursing workforce reflects the composition of the Victorian community. The Department strongly encourages applications from eligible people of any gender identity, age, religion, ethnicity, language, socio-economic background, sexual orientation, and disability.
To be eligible to apply for the MCH Scholarship with Federation University Australia students will need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident or a permanent humanitarian visa holder
- have accepted a place as a new student and/or be enrolled as a continuing student at Federation University in one of the following courses for Semester 1, 2025:
- Graduate Diploma of Health, Child and Family Health Nursing (Federation University)
- Master of Health, Child and Family Health Nursing (Federation University)
- be currently registered as a Division 1 Registered Nurse (without restrictions) with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
- have current registration as a Midwife (without restrictions) with AHPRA
- have accepted a Commonwealth Supported Place
To be eligible for a priority scholarship, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- applicants with demonstrated financial need, including (but not limited to) applicants in receipt of a government tested low-income benefit or Health Care Card holder
- applicants who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- applicants who identify as being from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background or who speak a language other than English at home
- applicants residing in and undertaking their clinical placement in areas with high workforce deficit (Wyndham City Council, City of Melton, City of Casey)
- applicants from rural and remote regions
The number of scholarships available may vary depending on funding.
Ineligibility
You are ineligible to apply if you have previously received a MCH Nursing Scholarship from the Department of Education and Training (DET) or Department of Health (DH or DHHS).
How to Apply
Please click apply and answer the application questions.
Information Privacy Procedure
Please read the Information Privacy Procedure before entering your profile in the Scholarships and Grants portal. Entering and submitting scholarship applications will constitute your consent to using your personal information as detailed in the Information Privacy Procedure.