Grants, award and prizes

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

In 2018 the ANMF (Vic Branch) Council introduced this financial grant for members - registered and enrolled nurses and midwives - undertaking post registration/postgraduate (certificate/diploma) education. 

Grants provide up to 80 per cent of the tuition costs incurred by eligible ANMF members. Since the launch, ANMF has distributed $2.6 million in education grants to members, who met the criteria and will use the funds to undertake specialist education in areas of great clinical need.  

In 2022-23, preference will be given to applications from registered and enrolled nurse and midwife members undertaking post registration/postgraduate (cert/diploma) studies in the following specialties/areas of practice:

Graduate certificate:

1. perioperative or perianaesthesia nursing
2. palliative care nursing
3. renal nursing
4. critical care nursing
   (intensive care unit/emergency/neonatal intensive care unit)
5. addictive behaviours
6. aged care

Graduate diploma:

1. postgraduate midwifery
2. mental health nursing
3. maternal and child health

Enrolled nurses:

1. Advanced Diploma in Nursing/Mental Health
2. Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs

Applications open in January 2023 and close in March 2023 (dates to be confirmed). 

Please note: due to the volume of applications received any missing information requested will not be followed up and the application will deemed incomplete.

Use of the grant
The ANMF (Vic Branch) Nursing and Midwifery Fee Grant will be considered on the basis of a shared-cost partnership agreement between the successful recipient and ANMF (Vic Branch). The Fee Grant will ordinarily be by way of a reimbursement of up to eighty per cent of the core course fee costs. The grant allocation will be limited to the cost of tuition/course fees only and will not include costs related to computers, accommodation, late enrolment fees, textbook, student services fees and other incidentals.

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. Fully complete and submit the ANMF (Vic Branch) Course Fee Application Form (including provision of the written outline about how the course will contribute to your practice)

4. Attach to the application form legible copies of:

a) allocation of a place within the course 

b) 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)

c) university tuition fees invoice issued from course provided for subjects undertaken between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023.

d) cost of course

e) Confirmation of Enrolment for each subject/unit

f) Commonwealth supported place (CSP) statement of account if you have one

g) receipt of payment/proof of payment(s)/or copy of HECS/FEE HELP statement if you have one**

h) declare all grants including the amount/s received from any sources for the study e.g. DHHS, employer or other scholarship

5. Be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA)

6. Be working in Victoria.

* 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 2021 to 30 June 2022.  

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

Please email grants@anmfvic.asn.au with inquiries with 'ANMF fee grant application' in the subject line.

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 3 January to Friday 27 May 2022.

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 30 June and Friday 1 July 2022.

Nominations close on Friday 27 May 2022.

Are you an ANMF member enrolled or considering enrolling in a Post Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing or a Graduate Certificate/Diploma in Forensic Mental Health Nursing? 

This scholarship is to the value of $3,500.

Who can apply
To be eligible for this scholarship you must:

• Be an ANMF (Victorian Branch) member for at least six (6) months
• Be currently employed in a forensic mental health service or role.
• Demonstrate evidence of course admission and be enrolled in semester two 2022 (e.g. course fees receipt or admission letter)

How to apply 
Applications close Thursday 15 December 2022. See apply link below. (Members will need to log in to complete the application form)

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

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 research proposal must be of clinical nursing significance and completed within two years of the application closing date. The proposal must already have approval by your university ethics committee and your research supervisor.

Applications closed June 2022.

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 and midwives attending and participating in conferences relevant to their professional practice.

Full-time and part-time ANMF members, who have been a financial member for at least 12 months, are eligible to apply for financial assistance to attend a Victorian, interstate or international conference. Criteria apply.

Contact Vanessa Standfield at records@anmfvic.asn.au

This annual grant supports an ANMF (Vic Branch) Special Interest Group or member undertaking clinical nursing research or higher education study.

The clinical project or higher education study must:

1. have the endorsement of your ANMF (Victorian Branch) Special Interest Group
2. be relevant to clinical nursing practice be transferable across workplace settings.

Applications close on 30 September 2022.

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

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 3 January to Friday 27 May 2022.

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 Annual Delegates Conference on Thursday 30 June and Friday 1 July 2022.

Nominations close on Friday 27 May 2022.

The Vi Elliott Occupational Health Nurses Trust makes up to $3000 available annually for:

1. Victorian nurses involved in or moving into the field of Occupational Health Nursing or Occupational Health and Safety to undertake professional development.
2. Victorian education institutions involved in the education of nurses in the fields of Occupational Health Nursing or Occupational Health and Safety

The grant is available for use to attend conferences, seminars, workshops, to undertake an education course or a research project in this field.

Applications close on Friday 21 October 2022

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