Free courses and training for nurses and midwives

THE State Government will introduce free university and specialist training for thousands of nurses and midwives.

In a $270 million boost to the health system, more than 17,000 nurses and midwives will be recruited and trained as part of a massive hiring and upskilling initiative.

More than 10,000 students will have the cost of their nursing or midwifery undergraduate studies paid for, while scholarships will be available for thousands more who complete postgraduate studies in areas of need including intensive care, cancer care, paediatrics and nurse practitioner specialities.

All new domestic students enrolling in a professional-entry nursing or midwifery course in 2023 and 2024, will receive a scholarship of up to $16,500 to cover course costs.

Students will receive $9000 while they study and the remaining $7500 if they work in Victorian public health services for two years.

More midwives will join the workforce through an expanded postgraduate midwifery incentive program, which will provide scholarships to cover course costs and salary support for 150 existing nurses to continue working while they complete their specialist studies in midwifery.
The package also includes:
* Scholarships for postgraduate nurses to complete studies in specialty areas such as intensive care, emergency, paediatrics and cancer care – worth an average of $10,000
* $11,000 scholarships for enrolled nurses to become registered nurses, covering course costs and boosting the number of registered nurses
* $12,000 scholarships to support training and employment of 100 new Nurse Practitioners in both acute and community settings
* More than $20 million to provide more support to the growing numbers of graduates and postgraduates as they transition to working in hospitals