Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1 Who can apply for an NT Nursing and Midwifery Studies Assistance Grant for undergraduate/entry to practice study?
A Any person who:
is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and
has resided in the NT for at least five years, and
is enrolled in a course leading to registration as an enrolled or registered nurse or direct entry midwife (apply under Priority Category 3).
Applicants must provide:
proof of Australian Citizenship or permanent residency status, and
proof of NT residency of at least five years with referee declaration included on the Applicant Support Form that must be submitted with the online application form, and
proof of payment, Fee Assessment Notice (includes evidence of enrolment and fees paid) plus tax invoices and receipts relating directly to the amount being claimed, and
if attending, evidence of compulsory, face-toface residential course attendance and receipts for accommodation and travel.
Q2 Who can apply for an NT Nursing and Midwifery Studies Assistance Grant for postgraduate study?
A Any person who:
is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and
has been employed within an NT health service for at least one year, and
is enrolled in a postgraduate course relevant to nursing and midwifery.
Applicants must provide:
proof of Australian citizenship or permanent residency status, and
proof of payment, Fee Assessment Notice (includes evidence of enrolment and fees paid) plus tax invoices and receipts relating directly to the amount being claimed, and
proof of manager support for Department of Health (DoH) applicants OR proof of employment in an NT health service for non-DoH applicants.
Q3 What kind of course do I need to be enrolled in to apply for an NT Nursing and Midwifery Studies Assistance Grant?
A Postgraduate courses identified under the Priority Categories including:
Bachelor of Midwifery (if you are already a Registered Nurse)
Graduate Certificate
Graduate Diploma
Master
PhD.
Undergraduate or entry to practice courses under Priority Category 3 including:
Bachelor of Nursing
Bachelor of Midwifery (direct entry)
Double degrees, including nursing and/or direct entry midwifery
Diploma in Nursing (Enrolled Nursing).
Q4 What are Priority Categories?
A In order to make the most strategic use of limited funds, the Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer has prioritised allocation of NT Nursing and Midwifery Studies Assistance Grants according to the following Priority Categories:
Category 1
Students identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons.
Category 2
Nurses and midwives studying to gain a postgraduate qualification in a range of clinical specialty areas.
Category 3
Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in a course leading to registration as an Enrolled or Registered Nurse or direct entry Registered Midwife.
Category 4
Nurses and midwives studying to gain a postgraduate qualification in a non-clinical area relevant to nursing/midwifery practice, for example nutrition or research.
Q6 Are the Ministerial Nurse Practitioner Scholarships the same as Studies Assistance Grants?
A No. Please refer to the Ministerial Nurse Practitioner Information Pack and FAQs for information on these scholarships.
Q7 Can I apply for short courses and assistance to attend a conference?
A No. The NT Nursing and Midwifery Studies Assistance Grants have been prioritised for nurses and midwives studying towards a tertiary level qualification. Nurses and midwives seeking financial support for continuing professional development activities are advised to seek other funding opportunities targeted to this purpose.
Q8 Does it matter how long I have lived in the NT?
A Yes. In line with the NT Department of Health’s ‘grow your own’ workforce strategy:
you must been employed by an NT health service (public, private or NGO) for a minimum of one year if you are applying as a postgraduate student, or
you must have lived in the NT for a minimum of five years to be eligible to apply for the grant if you are applying as an undergraduate student.
Q9 Can I apply for courses outside the NT?
A Studies must be completed at an NT education provider, for example Charles Darwin University, Centre for Remote Health, Bachelor Institute of Indigenous Education or Fox Education and Consulting, except when the course of study is not provided at one of those organisations or under exceptional circumstances.
Q10 What is funding granted for?
A NT Nursing and Midwifery Studies Assistance Grants may be awarded to assist with:
course fees
some text/reference books
airfares/transportation to and from compulsory, face-to-face residential course attendance
accommodation for compulsory, face-to-face residential/intensive practicum/clinical placement blocks.
Q11 What items are excluded from funding?
A Funding is not granted for items such as to cover loss of income such as salary/wages, computer hardware and software, accommodation for family members, NT Working with Children Clearance fees, first aid courses, internet access, child care and/or fuel while attending on-campus classes.
Q12 How much financial assistance do I apply for?
A You may only apply for reimbursement of the expenditure directly related to the named course of study for the current semester. You are expected to upload proof of payment using the online application form for each item you are claiming.
Q13 Am I expected to contribute towards the cost of my study?
A It is an expectation of the DoH that nurses and midwives will also contribute to the costs of their professional development endeavours. Staff eligible for an annual professional development allowance will be expected to contribute this allowance towards their studies. These contributions should be noted on the online application form under ‘About any other funding you are receiving’.
Q14 Am I eligible if I also receive any other grant, scholarship or bursary?
A If you are receiving some form of assistance from the DoH or other sources, you must declare this in the online application form under ‘About any other funding you are receiving’. Other assistance includes, but is not limited to scholarships from other organisations such as the Office of the Commissioner of Public Employment (OCPE), Department of Education and Children’s Services, Australian College of Nursing, previous NT Nursing and Midwifery Studies Assistance Grants, or the Northern Territory Public Sector (NTPS) By-Law 41.
Receipt of other assistance will be taken into account when evaluating your application. Other funding sources available for nursing and midwifery studies include:
Charles Darwin University scholarships >
Remote Workforce Development Scholarships Program through OCPE >
Australian College of Nursing >
Additional sources of scholarship funds may be sourced through a general web search.
Q15 What do I have to do to apply for an NT Nursing and Midwifery Studies Assistance Grant?
A To be considered you need to:
complete the online application form that is available on the NT Nursing and Midwifery website, and
upload the evidence required to support your application, and
submit your completed application and all supporting evidence before the closing date.
Please note: Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. All applications and supporting evidence must be submitted online. Please read the Studies Assistance Information pack on the NT Nursing and Midwifery website prior to completing the application form.
Q16 How will my application be assessed?
A An assessment panel will review applications on the merit of the material provided. Priority will be given progressively through Priority Categories.
The Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer will consider the assessment panel’s recommendations for studies assistance and make the final decision regarding funding allocation.
Under the NT Nursing and Midwifery Studies Assistance Grants Scheme, there is an expectation that
applicants will contribute towards the costs of their studies. Funds will be allocated based on a range of issues, including merit and the available funding. Total amounts requested may not necessarily be supported in full.
Q17 How will I find out about the result of my application for an NT Nursing and Midwifery Studies Assistance Grant?
A When the assessment process has been finalised, applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application via email. Executive Directors of Nursing, Nursing Directors or Branch Heads, as appropriate will also be advised of the outcome of the application.
Q18 What if I don’t agree with the assessment panel’s decision?
A If you don’t agree with the result of your application, you must lodge a Letter of Appeal with the Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, DoH, PO Box 40596, Casuarina NT 0811 within 14 days of receipt of the email advising you of the application outcome. The Letter of Appeal should outline the nature and basis of the appeal. A copy of any other documentary evidence beyond the original application should accompany the letter.
The Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer will communicate the outcome of the appeal to the applicant in writing.
Q19 How often can I apply?
A You can apply for studies assistance for each round/semester throughout the duration of your course.
Q20 Can I apply again if I am unsuccessful?
A This depends on the reason your application was unsuccessful. If you did not meet the eligibility criteria, you should not reapply unless your circumstances change. However, if you have not received the grant because your application was late or incomplete, or due to the highly competitive nature of funding, you can lodge a new application next semester providing that it complies with the requirements of the grant scheme for that particular round.
Q21 How will I receive my NT Nursing and Midwifery Studies Assistance Grant?
A Successful applicants will receive email advice of the grant amount that has been approved in principle:
payment of Studies Assistance Grants will be retrospective upon supplying evidence of successful completion of the units approved for funding, for example academic transcript, and
payment is only available through direct credit to your nominated bank account via your AGS or Vendor number. If you are a non-DoH employee, a vendor application will need to be completed and returned before the due date to facilitate payment of the grant. You can download a copy of this form on the NT Nursing and Midwifery website, and
you will receive advice of payment being processed via email. Please be aware that payment may take up to 30 days.
Applicants must advise the Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer via email of any changes to their circumstances, address and/or contact details.
Q22 How much will I receive if I am successful?
A Allocation of funds following receipt of applications will be based on a range of considerations, including available budget, contribution by the applicant and the number and quality of applications received.
It is important to note that the total amount requested may not necessarily be funded. Successful applicants may receive a contribution towards the costs of study, rather than the full amount requested on the application form.
Q23 Is the NT Nursing and Midwifery Studies Assistance Grant considered part of my income?
A Yes. Applicants are advised that for the purposes of determining eligibility for Centrelink benefits and tax liability, NT Nursing and Midwifery Studies Assistance Grants are deemed as income and should be declared in your tax return. Please consult with your accountant for tax advice.
Q24 What happens if I do not accept the grant funding?
A If you do not accept the grant offered, please notify the Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer immediately via email stating the reasons for not accepting the grant, as it may provide the opportunity to reallocate funding.
Q25 Who can I contact if I have a query about my NT Nursing and Midwifery Studies Assistance Grant application?
A Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Phone: 1800 000 648
Email: [email protected]
