THE state government’s free nursing and midwifery initiative is an excellent opportunity for those interested in pursuing a career in nursing or midwifery.
The government is investing $270 million to train and recruit more than 17,000 nurses and midwives in Victoria, removing financial barriers for students and providing scholarships for those who need it.
As part of this initiative, nursing and midwifery students who begin their studies in 2021 or 2022 will be reimbursed up to $16,500, covering the cost of their degree.
Additionally, new domestic students enrolling in a professional-entry nursing or midwifery course will receive $3,000 a year over a maximum of three years while studying, and the remaining $7,500 once they complete two years of work in a Victorian public health service.
There are also incentives for nursing and midwifery graduates to work in the Victorian public health sector, with an additional $5,000 in bonus payments after two years of work.
The government is also providing scholarships of up to $15,000 to update qualifications and complete any training required for nurses and midwives re-joining the workforce.
The initiative includes scholarships for enrolled nurses to become registered nurses, postgraduate nurses to specialise in areas such as intensive care, emergency, paediatrics, and cancer care, and to recruit 100 extra highly skilled nurse practitioners across the state.
