Grants, award and prizes

Are you undertaking post-registration/postgraduate study in nursing or midwifery in Victoria?

The ANMF Fee Grant provides up to 80 per cent reimbursement of tuition/course fees incurred by eligible members undertaking post-registration or postgraduate (e.g. graduate certificate/graduate diploma/masters) nursing or midwifery education. 

This grant will be considered a shared-cost partnership agreement between the recipient and ANMF (Vic Branch). It does not include costs related to computers, accommodation, late enrolment fees, textbook, student services fees or other incidentals.

Examples of grant approval preferences include, but not limited to, the following specialities and areas of practice:

• perioperative or peri anaesthesia nursing
• palliative care nursing
• renal nursing
• critical care nursing (ICU/emergency/neonatal ICU, especially those recommended to ANMF by the Australian College Critical Care Nurses)
• addictive behaviours
• aged care
• postgraduate midwifery
• mental health nursing
• cancer nursing
• primary care
• maternal and child health

If you’re an enrolled nurse, applications will be considered for qualifications such as the Advanced Diploma in Nursing/Mental Health or Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must:

1. Be a financial member of the ANMF (Vic Branch) for at least 24 continuous months at the time of application*.
2. Continue to be a financial member of the ANMF (Vic Branch) during the course.
3. Be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
4. Be working in Victoria. Recent graduates must have completed at least a graduate year or a year of working as a registered or enrolled nurse or midwife.
5. Be enrolled in a post-registration or postgraduate (e.g. graduate certificate/graduate diploma/masters) nursing or midwifery course during the 22-23 financial year.

How to apply

1. Log in with your member number and password and complete the online application form (including provision of the written outline about how the course will contribute to your practice)
2. Attach legible Word or PDF copies of:

• allocation of a place within the course 
• the Course Enrolment Guide (including name of the course, details of the subjects/units enrolled in during the 22-23 financial year, mode of delivery e.g. face-to-face or online, course provider information)
• university tuition fees invoice issued from course provided for subjects undertaken between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023.
• cost of course
• Confirmation of Enrolment for each subject/unit
• Commonwealth supported place (CSP) statement of account if you have one
• receipt of payment/proof of payment(s)/or copy of HECS/FEE HELP statement if you have one**
• declare all grants including the amount/s received from any sources for the study e.g. DHHS, employer or other scholarship

Please check you have answered all questions before submission. Due to the high volume of applications, any missing information requested will not be followed up and the application will be deemed incomplete.

* Unless extraordinary circumstances can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the ANMF (Vic Branch) Council. Student membership is considered part of the 24 continuous months.

** This provision is not intended to limit applications from ANMF (Vic Branch) members who may be experiencing significant financial hardship. In such circumstances, members are encouraged to seek ‘approval in advance’ ensuring that they provide evidence of the hardship to this application for the consideration of the ANMF (Vic Branch) Council Course Fee Grant Subcommittee (CFGS).

Privacy

The ANMF (Vic Branch) is obliged by law to provide to the Registered Organisations Commission the names of any members to whom a grant is made and to publish the names of grant recipients in our Annual Report.

Taxation

The ANMF (Vic Branch) does not and will not provide advice on the tax implications, if any, on the provision of a grant to a successful recipient.

Reporting

Successful applicants must provide to the ANMF (Vic Branch) Council Course Fee Grant Subcommittee copies of unit results within two weeks of them being available from the education provider at the end of each study semester.

Notification of grants

Where the ANMF (Vic Branch) Council Course Fee Grant Subcommittee approves an application for a grant, the ANMF (Vic Branch) will advise the applicant in writing of that approval. Successful applicants will be provided a letter of approval in principle. These members will be responsible for returning a signed copy of acceptance within the stated time-frame, acknowledging and accepting terms and conditions. The ANMF (Vic Branch) Council Course Fee Grant Subcommittee decision in awarding fee grants is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Payment of grants

Payment of approved fees to successful applicants will be by way of reimbursement on a per subject per semester basis over the financial year from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.  

Payment will be made the week commencing 19 June 2023. 

Validation of the grant

The ANMF (Vic Branch) may terminate a grant, if in the opinion of the ANMF (Vic Branch) this is warranted. The recipient may be required to reimburse the ANMF (Vic Branch) for the grant payment where it is evidenced that:

1. The recipient does not complete and/or has no intention of completing the course for which the grant was awarded; for example the recipient withdraws or defers the course without the approval of the ANMF (Vic Branch) Course Fee Grant Subcommittee.
2. Rescinding ANMF membership or non-payment of ANMF membership fees during the period in which the postgraduate course of the studies or unit/s of study is being undertaken.

Inquiries

Email feegrant@anmfvic.asn.au.

Other opportunities

Members may also be interested in the Andrews Government's free nursing and midwifery study initiatives.

The ANMF (Vic Branch) awards $1000 to an HSR elected under the OHS Act 2004 who has demonstrated an outstanding achievement and commitment to the ANMF (Vic Branch) and to the members in their workplace, such as

• representing members of their designated work group, concerning health or safety matters
• monitoring, raising, or addressing the OHS measures taken by their employer
• enquiring into risks to the health and safety of members of the DWG or others
• attempting to resolve health or safety issues

The nomination period is from Monday 2 January to Friday 26 May 2023.

The successful HSR will be selected by a panel comprising the ANMF (Vic Branch) Secretary and OHS Unit Co-ordinator, against the criteria provided. The award will be presented at the Annual Delegates Conference on Thursday 22 June and Friday 23 June 2023.

Nominations closed on Friday 26 May 2023.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can apply for sponsorship to complete either a Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety or a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, delivered by the ANMF (Vic Branch) Education Centre.

HESTA will provide funding to cover fees for two students for courses commencing in 2021. This initiative is part of HESTA’s long-standing association with the ANMF (Vic Branch).

The sponsorships recognise the need to improve opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, to reach their full potential working in the health and community sector.

Who can apply

HESTA education sponsorships are for healthcare/personal care workers who are:

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• Wanting to complete either a BSB41419 Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety or TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and offered through the ANMF (Vic Branch) Education Centre (RTO # 22609)
• Meet entry requirements for the relevant course.

Sponsorship selection process

Selection will be based on the information provided in the application as determined by a selection panel. In addition to the course application information, applicants are required to complete a statement (of approximately 250 words – see below) to demonstrate commitment to applying the skills gained to benefit the health and community sector and/or for the applicant’s community.

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment enrolment statement

Provide a short statement (about 250 words) demonstrating your commitment to training in the vocational education field.  Please include any current roles, e.g. training and support within an Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander community, or anything else that you feel may strengthen your application. Apply now.

This annual $4000 ANMF (Vic Branch) Humanitarian Grant will assist overseas nurses who enter Australia as refugees to gain their registration with the NMBA (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia).

This grant was established following a request to assist a young Sudanese refugee enrolled in a Victorian undergraduate nursing program.

Further investigation revealed a number of refugees in Australia, who were also nurses, and required assistance to practice. ANMF (Vic Branch) believes it is important to support nurses who are refugees from other countries and to assist them to continue to practice nursing in Victoria and earn a living for themselves and their families.

The $4000 ANMF Humanitarian Grant will be available each year and funds will be allocated to applicants who:

• have a nursing qualification
• have received or are in the process of obtaining Australian refugee status
• undertake a pre-registration or supervised practice program in order to gain registration with the NMBA 
• provide confirmation of acceptance in education programs and details of associated costs.

Contact ANMF (Vic Branch) Professional Officer Mark Staaf at records@anmfvic.asn.au

This grant is available for Masters and PhD students.

The $10,000 higher education and research grant is available to members undertaking university higher degree study at PhD or Masters level by research (this grant is not available to those undertaking a Masters by coursework).

Applications for this grant must include:

1. detail of the research proposal
2. the clinical significance of the research to nursing/midwifery practice.

Applicants’ proposals must already have approval by your university ethics committee and your research supervisor. Your research must also be completed within two years of the application closing date.

Applications close September 30 2023.

Contact ANMF (Vic Branch) Professional Officer Mark Staaf at records@anmfvic.asn.au

ANMF (Vic Branch) awards an annual prize to an outstanding final year nursing student from every Victorian university and TAFE.

Recipients of this prize display excellence in nursing theory and clinical practice and are nominated by their institution.

These awards are announced at the ANMF (Vic Branch) Annual General Meeting in December or at the individual university or TAFE's award presentation ceremony.

Contact the ANMF (Vic Branch) Graduate and Final Year Officer at records@anmfvic.asn.au

ANMF (Vic Branch) is strongly committed to nurses, midwives and carers attending and participating in conferences relevant to their professional practice.
These conferences may be within Victoria, interstate or international.

We ask that members read the information below prior to completing an application to ensure they meet, and are aware of, the grant guidelines.

• Full or part-time financial members for one year are eligible to apply.
• Preference will be given to application for monies to attend a conference related to the member’s area of clinical practice.
• The ANMF (Vic Branch) conference grant is a contribution towards the conference attendance and in most instances will not meet the full amount requested. 
• ANMF (Vic Branch) reserves the right to award monies outside of the application guidelines based on special circumstances that may arise from time to time.
• Each application form sent to a member will have the guidelines attached.
• No retrospective monies will be awarded.
• No monies are to be granted to a member who has received assistance within the previous two years of the current application.
• All applicants will be notified in writing regarding the Secretary’s decision.
• There is no avenue of appeal for unsuccessful applications.
• ANMF (Vic Branch) will keep a record of recipients.
• Recipients are to provide a copy of conference proceedings for ANMF (Vic Branch) Library for the benefit of all members.
• Recipients are to write a short report for possible publication in ANMJ or On The Record.

For further information contact: gjohnson@anmfvic.asn.au

How to apply: Log in with your member number and password and complete the online application form. Link below.

Every year, the ANMF (Vic Branch) awards $1000 to a Hannah Sellers Job Rep of the Year.

This award is for Job Reps in Victoria who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the ANMF and to ANMF members in their workplace.

Achievements may comprise recruitment, dispute resolution or any other exceptional initiative that improves their colleagues' wages, employment conditions or ability to provide high quality care.

The nomination period is from Monday 2 January to Friday 26 May 2023.

The successful Job Representative will be selected by a panel comprising the ANMF (Vic Branch) President, Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The award will be presented at the 2023 Annual Delegates Conference.

Nominations closed at 5pm, Friday 26 May 2023.

The Vi Elliott Occupational Health Nurses Trust provides an annual grant up to the value of $3000 to assist the professional and career development of a nurse or midwife employed in Victoria.

This grant is available for the recipient to use to attend conferences, seminars or workshops, or to undertake an education course or a research project in the field of health and safety.

Applicants for this grant must fall into a category below:

1. a Victorian nurse or midwife involved in or transitioning their nursing or midwifery practice into the field of occupational health or occupational health and safety; or
2. a Victorian nurse or midwife undertaking nursing or midwifery education in the fields of occupational health, occupational health and safety, occupational violence and aggression – prevention and/or management, safe patient handling, or fatigue management; or
3. a Victorian education provider involved in the education of nurses in the fields of occupational health nursing, occupational health and safety.

Applications close on 30 September 2023

Contact ANMF (Vic Branch) Professional Officer Mark Staaf at records@anmfvic.asn.au

The Victorian Department of Health is offering Victorian nurses and midwives scholarships to undertake the Graduate Certificate of Addictive Behaviours in 2024

As part of an ongoing ANMF (Vic Branch) and Turning Point project, the Victorian Department of Health is offering scholarships valued at approximately $10,000 for nurses and midwives, working in the Victorian health system, to complete a Graduate Certificate in Addictive Behaviours in 2024. 

This online course is facilitated by Turning Point staff in conjunction with Monash University.

The Graduate Certificate of Addictive Behaviours provides foundational knowledge and skills to recognise and respond to substance use disorders and other addictive behaviours.

The first semester unit you will explore models and theories of addiction, examine research evidence to strengthen your understanding of how this informs contemporary policy and public health responses within a harm minimisation framework.

The second semester unit, develops practice-relevant skills in identifying, screening and assessment for addictive behaviours, providing brief interventions and referrals for treatment within the context of AOD treatment systems. A particular emphasis will be placed on developing communication, client engagement, professional practice, and interpersonal skills important for all AOD, health and community service practitioners.

Expressions of interest opens 24 August and closes 5pm, Friday 20 October 2023.

Scholarship information

The scholarship is valued at approximately $10,000 per person. The applicant will be responsible for the balance which includes student fees, any costs related to computers, late enrolment fees, textbook, student services fees and other incidentals.

The expected cost to the applicant is approximately $5000 ($2500 per semester) to complete the Graduate Certificate of Addictive Behaviours in 2024.

Enrolled students may be eligible for a FEE-HELP loan to pay the outstanding tuition fees. For more information about FEE-HELP loans, please contact Monash University directly or Fee HELP

Eligibility

Applicants must meet all the following conditions:

1. submit a curriculum vitae and a 500-word statement of purpose outlining reasons for undertaking the course. This should include your academic and professional interests, how you believe you will add value to the graduate program and why you believe you should be awarded a scholarship.
2. be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and reside in Victoria
3. intend to enrol in the Graduate Certificate of Addictive Behaviours for completion in 2024
4. be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) as a nurse or midwife and attach a copy of the registration(s)
5. must be eligible and meet the criteria for enrolment into M4018 Graduate Certificate of Addictive Behaviours Course 2024.

Selection

1. A selection panel consisting of representatives from ANMF, Turning Point and an industry expert will review all expressions of interest. Selection will be based on meeting the eligibility criteria for the course as well as reviewing the statement of purpose and occupational and academic achievements.
2. The panel will ensure that the allocation of scholarships is fairly distributed across the Victorian AOD sector.
3. Priority will be given to those who have not previously received a scholarship from the Department of Health for this course.
4. Applicants must commit to completing the course in 2024 and paying any outstanding fee to Monash University.

Payment of scholarship

The ANMF (Vic Branch) is funded and will pay the approved scholarship amount directly to Monash University with applicants fully responsible for other fees linked to the course of study.

The ANMF (Vic Branch) may terminate a scholarship, if in the opinion of ANMF (Vic Branch) this is warranted.

The recipient may be required to reimburse ANMF (Vic Branch) for the scholarship where it is evidenced that the recipient does not complete and/or has no intention of completing the course, for which the scholarship was awarded, in 2024; for example, the recipient withdraws or defers the course without prior approval of ANMF (Vic Branch), which will not unreasonably be withheld.

Scholarship expression of interest

Please complete the online scholarship expression of interest form which will require you to attach your 500-word statement of purpose, curriculum vitae, and registration certificate.

For further inquiries contact ANMF Industrial Professional Assistant Sue Vaswani via records@anmfvic.asn.au

Scholarship expressions of interest close 5pm, Friday 20 October 2023

Confirmation of scholarships

All applicants will be notified in writing via email and are encouraged to apply to Monash University as soon as possible, however, no later than COB Wednesday 31 January 2024. Successful applicants need to apply, be accepted and submit the following documents:

• Copy of Academic Transcript (graded) with evidence of completion
• Proof of Citizenship/Residency or ID – Australian Passport OR Birth Certificate OR Australian Citizenship Certificate OR Permanent Resident Visa Notification