The $50.2M Primary Care Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Program will provide 1,850 postgraduate scholarships over four years for registered nurses and midwives to become nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives in primary and aged care settings. The funding is part of Labor’s commitment to strengthen the health workforce by upskilling professionals across the primary health care system, ensuring every Australian has access to quality, timely support.
The program will strengthen the health workforce in rural and remote communities by providing preference to scholarship applicants currently living or working in these areas. The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) will manage the program. As a first step, ACNP will set up an advisory group to ensure the scholarships are awarded in the areas of most need, including rural and remote communities.
The announcement builds on the Albanese Government’s introduction of the Health Legislation Amendment (Removal of Requirement for a Collaborative Arrangement) Bill which removes barriers that prevent nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives from prescribing Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines and providing services under Medicare. “As an emergency doctor, I know first-hand the impact that workforce shortages in our health sector have on our community,” Reid said. “This announcement will encourage more nurses to become nurse practitioners.
“I’m proud to be part of a government that is creating oppor.