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Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP)

The Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) aims to support rural and remote health professionals in upskilling and enhancing the healthcare services they provide to their communities.

About

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the HWSP is administered in the Northern Territory (NT) by the Northern Territory Primary Health Network (NT PHN), incorporating Rural Workforce Agency Northern Territory (RWA NT).

The program provides scholarships and bursaries to eligible health professionals working in rural and remote primary healthcare settings across the NT.

Applications are assessed against workforce priorities and needs identified within the Rural Workforce Needs Assessments, with an additional assessment methodology applied to support fair and equitable funding decisions. Please note that funding is limited and not guaranteed.

Who is this program for?

Scholarships and bursaries are available to medical, nursing, midwifery, dental, allied health, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals who provide primary healthcare services in the Northern Territory’s remote and rural areas.

Applicants must be employed:

  • in a private practice or non-government not-for-profit primary healthcare organisation within an MM 3–7 location; or
  • by an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) within an MM 1–7 location.

Eligible locations

Check your location using the Health Workforce Locator (MM 2023 Classification).

Eligible locations include:

  • MM 3–7 locations for rural and remote primary healthcare providers
  • MM 1–7 locations for health professionals employed by ACCHOs.

Applications

Applications are open during the periods specified below and must be submitted online.

Before applying, the following documents and information should be reviewed to ensure eligibility requirements are met:

For further information regarding the program or eligibility, please contact: grants@ntphn.org.au.

Please note:
Health professionals employed in private practice or non-government not-for-profit organisations n MMM 2 locations may not be eligible for the HWSP. However, they may be eligible for alternative funding opportunities through the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Grant.

Applicant guidelines

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements to apply. Full eligibility criteria, exclusions and program requirements are available in the applicant guidelines.

Funding options

Bursary: Payments of up to $10,000 within a 12-month period to support course fees and training-related expenses, such as travel and accommodation, where appropriate. Funding may be used for online or face-to-face short courses and workshops.

Scholarship: Payments up to $10,000 per year for up to 2 years to attain a postgraduate qualification of either a postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma, master’s degree or PhD.

Important information

  • Retrospective funding is not available for courses completed prior to applying.
  • Applicants currently undertaking eligible study may be considered for future course expenses only.
  • A maximum of one application per person will be considered per funding round.
  • Courses must commence on or after the relevant round opening date and within 6 months of the application submission date.
  • Grant round dates are subject to change.

For more information, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document

Timelines for upcoming grant rounds

Applications open: 1 July 2026 – 26 July 2026

  • Courses must commence on or before 26 January 2027
  • Outcomes advised on or before 12 August 2026

Applications open: 1 October 2026 – 25 October 2026

  • Courses must commence on or before 25 April 2027
  • Outcomes advised on or before 11 November 2026

Applications open: 25 January 2027 – 21 February 2027

  • Courses must commence on or before 21 August 2027
  • Outcomes advised on or before 10 March 2027

Applications open: 12 April 2027 – 9 May 2027

  • Courses must commence on or before 9 November 2027
  • Outcomes advised on or before 26 May 2027