What is the Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme?
The Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme aims to improve access to high quality mental health services through an increase in the trained mental health workforce. This initiative is part of the Additional Education Places, Scholarships and Clinical Training in Mental Health measure.
Responsibility for the Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme rests with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Why is this important?
There is a significant unmet need in the community for mental health services. This Scheme assists in efforts to increase Australia's trained mental health workforce.
Who benefits?
The Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme will support students undertaking postgraduate tertiary studies in mental health nursing and clinical psychology.
What does the Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme deliver?
The Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme provides scholarships to support people to undertake eligible postgraduate studies in mental health nursing and clinical psychology.
How does it work?
The Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme: Mental Health Nursing component is administered by the Royal College of Nursing Australia, and the Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme: Clinical Psychology component is administered by the Australian Psychological Society on behalf of the Department. Top of page
What funding is attached to this scheme?
$103.5 million has been provided over 5 years for the entire measure, of which over $10 million is allocated for this scheme.
In addition, the Government committed in the 2008-09 Federal Budget to include an additional $35 million over four years to increase the value and availability of clinical psychology and mental health nursing scholarships under the Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme, including designated rural and remote scholarships.
When did the Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme start?
The first round was for the 2007 academic year.
Further information
Department of Health and Ageing site for Mental Health Initiatives:
www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/portal-Mental%20health
For more information on the Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme: Mental Health Nursing scholarships, refer to the Royal College of Nursing, Australia’s website at: http://www.rcna.org.au/scholarships/mental_health or contact 1800 770 562.
For more information on the Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme: Clinical Psychology scholarships, refer to the Australian Psychological Society’s website at: http://www.psychology.org.au/academic/scholarships/mhpss/ or contact 1800 703 883.
The following are related initiatives:
- Better Mental Health Services for Australia - Additional Education Places, Scholarships and Clinical Training in Mental Health measure;
- Psychiatry Training Outside Teaching Hospitals;
- Structural Reform of Psychiatric Training.
Page currency, Latest update: 13 September, 2007