Applications open to 30 May 2023

The NSW Health Mental Health Branch is excited to partner with the Health Education and Training Institute (HETI) Mental Health Portfolio to offer fully funded postgraduate mental health scholarships which support workforce capabilities within NSW Health Services.

The scholarship will enable students to complete one degree qualification within the Applied Mental Health Studies (AMHS) course Adult Mental Health Specialisation, either the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Masters. If you are a new student you will need to commence in the Graduate Certificate and the scholarship will cover this degree level. Students have the option to apply for advanced standing which recognises previous study.

AMHS units are offered completely online over a five-week teaching period. They are designed with flexibility to meet the needs of the health workforce who are combining study with other commitments. Scholarships will support students to complete a degree level across a maximum of three years.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

NSW Health professionals (nurses, peer workers and allied health staff) providing mental health services to adult mental health consumers will be eligible to apply for scholarships with the endorsement of their Local Health District/ Specialty Health Network Manager or Director. Students must fulfil the following requirements:

1. Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
2. Meet the eligibility criteria for admission into a HETI Higher Education course; https://heti.edu.au/student-information/key-information/entry-requirements
3. Be currently employed by NSW Health. Priority will be given to people working in:
   1. Adult mental health services (nursing, peer workers, allied health staff)
   2. Related health services and/or people working with priority populations
4. Obtain endorsement/support to apply from your Local Health District/ Specialty Health Network Manager or Director
5. To receive this scholarship you cannot currently be a recipient of any other scholarship with HETI Higher Education

COST

The scholarship is fully funded by the NSW Health Mental Health Branch. Scholarship recipients will not be required to pay a fee. The scholarship will be administered and delivered by HETI to NSW Health employees, in consultation with the Mental Health Branch. Students will be allocated 600 hours to complete a degree level, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, or Masters. Students already studying can apply to complete the degree level of their current enrolment.

KEY DATES

Applications for admission to the degrees are open now. You need to be admitted into a degree before applying for a scholarship.

• Scholarship applications for study starting in 2023
• Scholarship notifications will be made once eligibility is determined. Students will be notified of acceptance after 19 Jan 2023. Approvals for scholarships will continue until funds are exhausted
• Study can begin at a date to suit the student, noting completion of the degree is required by the end of 2025. Teaching Period dates are shown in the academic calendar
• Students can enrol in units for their degree across a full calendar year. Scholarship funds must be allocated to units by the unit census date of each teaching period. See the academic calendar for census dates

How to apply?

If you are commencing study with HETI Higher Education for the first time, you will need to:

1. Apply for the Applied Mental Health Studies Course through our online admission form via myHETIconnect. Information on how to apply is available on the website: https://heti.edu.au/student-information/key-information/apply. Students should select the course code: Graduate Certificate in Applied Mental Health Studies, Graduate Diploma in Applied Mental Health Studies, or Masters Applied Mental Health Studies – as is appropriate to their situation
2. Once admission to the course has been approved and you have received your unconditional offer into the course, applicants will then be able to complete the HETI scholarship application via the scholarship tab in myHETIconnect
3. Complete the Adult Mental Health Scholarship application online via the Scholarship tab in myHETIconnect. The scholarship application will ask you to:
• Detail your role within NSW Health
• Provide the name and contact details of a Local Health District/ Specialty Health Network Manager or Director who is supporting/endorsing your application. Provision of these details is understood as evidence of their support/endorsement
• Agree that you can meet the time commitment for completing your study load. Units of study within the postgraduate Applied Mental Health Studies course are equivalent to 50 hours of study per unit, over 5 weeks (~10 hours per week). Students can choose their study commitment by managing their enrolment across the teaching periods. There are six teaching periods per year
• Agree that you will actively engage with unit learning activities and recommended study support options such as resources to develop academic skills, library support, referencing guides and other resources

If you are a continuing student with HETI Higher Education, you will need to apply for a scholarship via Scholarship Tab within myHETIconnect.

HOW DO APPLICANTS KNOW IF THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL?

All applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application by email within four weeks of scholarship application.

Successful applicants will receive an Offer of Funding for the degree the scholarship funding will support. All enrolments are subject to enrolment requirements as per the HETI Higher Education Enrolment Policy - https://heti.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/565544/Enrolment-Policy-v2.5.pdf

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF A SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT?

Scholarship recipients are expected to:

1. Complete unit enrolments via myHETIconnect, Courses and Units Tab. Scholarship funds will be available for you to allocate to your selected units in myHETIconnect, Scholarship tab
2. Students are responsible for self-allocating their scholarship funding to units via myHETIconnect
3. Student are expected to actively engage with learning activities and support resources; and complete the unit assessment/s to at least a pass grade
4. Students are expected to participate in a feedback survey and other unit evaluation processes

Students are responsible for self-allocating the scholarship funding to their units via myHETIconnect before the commencement date of each of the Teaching Periods. Any unallocated funds after census date will be forfeited by the student and cannot be deferred.

WHAT HAPPENS TO MY SCHOLARSHIP IF I LEAVE NSW HEALTH?

If you cease employment with NSW Health during study, the awarded scholarships monies for future units will be forfeited. If you move from one Local Health District/Specialty Network to another, this does not constitute leaving the NSW Health System, and therefore scholarship funds remain with you.

WHAT HAPPENS TO MY SCHOLARSHIP IF I FAIL A UNIT?

Students who fail to complete a unit due to non-attendance or not achieving a pass grade will forfeit awarded scholarship monies for that unit of study. If a student wishes to repeat the unit/course again, it will be at the expense of the student. Future scholarship applications may be impacted, as students with a record of pass grades with AMHS units will be prioritised.

CAN I WITHDRAW FROM A UNIT?

You can withdraw from a unit via myHETIconnect on or before the Teaching Period census date shown in the academic calendar. Withdrawing from a unit after census date forfeits the scholarship funds.

Note that you can choose to withdraw from units prior to census date without penalty. For this scholarship, you must complete study of the units required for your degree within the three year timeframe.

CAN I DEFER SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING?

Scholarship funding cannot be deferred and must be used within the allocated three year time period.

WHAT IF I NEED TO WITHDRAW FROM THE DEGREE?

If you are unable to complete the degree for a reason consistent with Special Considerations, your funding will be made available to another student. Note that you have three years to complete your degree; most students finish in 12 -18 months.

WHAT IF I AM PART-WAY THROUGH THE DEGREE?

This scholarship will support current students who wish to finish their degree. If you would like to be supported, you can apply for the number of hours left to finish your degree. Add this detail into the uploaded document in the application process. If you are one or two units from finishing, you can apply for a full scholarship for the next degree level to be used when your degree is completed.

FURTHER INFORMATION

If you would like information or advice regarding scholarships or courses, please contact: