The Victorian Department of Health (the Department) is offering postgraduate scholarships of up to $13,000 to social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists and other allied health professionals working in state funded mental health services and alcohol and other drug (AOD) practitioners working in state funded AOD services.

Scholarships can be used for postgraduate qualifications to support practitioners to develop their direct mental health or AOD practice.

The scholarships are available to eligible individuals who are enrolled or intending to enrol in an eligible postgraduate course in semester one, 2023.

Applications closed.

Applicants must be:

• A) a social worker, occupational therapist, psychologist or other allied health professional working** in a state funded mental health service
• OR
• B) an AOD practitioner employed in a state funded AOD service
• Must have at least two years’ experience working in your discipline** in your current sector
• Must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident or New Zealand citizen
• Must be eligible to enrol in a relevant postgraduate qualification
• Must be able to provide a letter of recommendation from their line-manger and/or discipline senior (if relevant), confirming length of employment in the sector and how the service will support the applicant’s learning (e.g., through study leave, flexible workload, etc). Applicants will be prompted to upload this in the College’s application process.

** Please note that individuals qualified in an allied health discipline but working in generic, psychosocial or case management roles can apply.

Any postgraduate qualification (i.e., graduate certificate, graduate diploma, master’s or doctorate) that can be demonstrated to support the development of the applicant’s mental health or AOD practice. This includes (but is not limited to) qualifications in:

• Mental health practice
• AOD, substance use and addiction
• Trauma-informed practice
• Disability
• Infant, child and youth mental health
• Family therapy
• Practice based research
• Psychology specialisations (for example, Master’s in Neuropsychology).

Scholarships will be awarded based on your responses to the selection questions and additional weighting will be given to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants, and those who work in regional or rural Victoria.

The selection questions are below:

Scholarships are up to approximately $13,000 and can be used to cover up to 90% of course fees for an eligible course.

Depending on the number of applications received and the strength of your application, larger scholarships may be available.

Please inform us of the full course costs associated with your chosen qualification.