The Department of Health funds 117 Postgraduate Mental Health Nursing scholarships per year. This round of scholarships is offered for students enrolled in eligible programs in Semester 2, 2025 and Semester 1, 2026.
Applications are now open until 4:00pm, 17 December 2025.
Purpose and scope
To support the implementation of Victoria’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy 2021-2024, the Department of Health is offering scholarships to support nurses employed (or commencing employment) in Victorian public mental health services to support postgraduate study. Each scholarship is worth up to $3,000.
Postgraduate Mental Health Nurse scholarships provide financial assistance to nurses employed (or commencing employment) within Victorian area mental health and wellbeing services and statewide mental health services.
The objective of this initiative is to support continued learning and development pathways to help build the workforce’s skills, knowledge, and capabilities to deliver high quality, evidence-based and consumer-centred care.
Scholarship funds contribute towards the cost of undertaking postgraduate studies including:
- tuition fees, student contributions
- study loans (including HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP)
- books and equipment
- travel required to attend lectures and clinical placements
- childcare
- other related study costs.
The scholarships are paid directly to individual recipients, not their employers or the Australian Taxation Office.
To promote a diverse workforce as envisioned by the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System and Victoria’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy 2021-2024, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTIQA+, workers with disabilities and culturally diverse workers in the mental health sector are strongly encouraged to apply. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants will be given additional weighting in the application process.
Find out more about the other mental health nurse scholarships and grants included in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Scholarship Program.
Guidelines
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All applicants should read the guidelines and FAQs below before applying.
Victorian postgraduate mental health nurse scholarships guidelinesVictorian postgraduate mental health nurse scholarships FAQ -
The Department of Government Services (DGS) administers the scholarships on behalf of the Victorian Department of Health.
To apply for the $3000 Postgraduate Mental Health Nurse Scholarship, fill out the online application .
For more information, please contact DGS on MHN.scholarships@grants.vic.gov.au
Reviewed 21 October 2025