The Mental Health Nursing, Allied Health and Psychology Scholarships Program is an Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care initiative. The program provides a range of scholarships for mental health nurses, allied health professionals and psychologists to undertake studies in mental health related fields.

The Allied Health Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scholarship provides up to $1,500 for allied health professionals working or intending to work within the mental health sector to attend a short course, conference or workshop in 2023. 5% of scholarships will be prioritised to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants.

Scholarship applications are currently open as more scholarship places have become available. Applications will close as soon as all of the available places have been filled.

To be eligible to apply for a scholarship an applicant must be:

• an Australian Citizen or permanent resident of Australia
• are a qualified allied health professional (including psychology), who is either registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency or eligible to register with their professional body
• works in the mental health sector which includes primary care, community care, psychiatric hospitals, mental health units and aged care services
• undertaking a course, which commences or is continuing from 1 July 2023 to 21 December 2024 at the following level:
  — Short courses
  — Conferences
  — Workshops.

All courses must be relevant to the applicants work in the mental health sector and enhance expertise in mental health and suicide prevention.

Scholarships will be awarded on the recommendation of a selection committee and will be based on how you address the following criteria:

The maximum limit for each question is 200 words. It is recommended that you utilise as much of this as possible.

Please note: information collected on your rurality and being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background will be used as a selection weighting to meet workforce need.