The Masters of Psychology – Rural Placement Program was established in 2016. The program aims to grow the rural workforce by supporting students to undertake rural placements and building the capacity of host sites and supervisors to support students. This program is funded by the Australian Government Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training program.

Support provided can include financial assistance/bursary (eligibility criteria applies), education support, mentoring assistance, cultural training, support to supervisors, placement matching & placement development.

Further Information

Support Available:

  • Financial assistance for travel, accommodation*, or supervision
  • Professional development for students and supervisors

The type of assistance provided by the Going Rural Health team is decided on a case-by-case basis. Factors affecting the support offered include rurality, distance travelled, placement length, and the location of the placement. The Going Rural Health team will make the final decision on whether or not support is offered.

Support can be tailored for students, supervisors, and host sites.

There are a finite number of students we can support financially in any year. Once this number has been reached, no further funding will be available.

*Students are required to find their own accommodation, if required.

Student Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the Masters of Psychology Placement Support Program the student must:

  1. Be undertaking an unpaid placement in MMM2-5 regions of Victoria. MMM1 includes metropolitan Melbourne and Geelong, and placements in those areas are NOT eligible for funding. See the locator for MMM details (using Modified Monash Model 2019).
  2. Be enrolled in a Masters of Psychology program with a recognised Australian university which requires the applicant to complete a compulsory placement.
  3. Be an Australian/New Zealand citizen or permanent resident of Australia, or have refugee status.
  4. Maintain satisfactory progress throughout the clinical placement as well as through the Masters of Psychology program.
  5. Complete a minimum 40 day regional/rural clinical placement (full-time or part-time).

How to apply?

  1. Register a profile on the Rural Living Portal
  2. Once registered and logged in, select ‘apply now’
  3. Complete the application, including the placement you’re looking to get support for.
  4. Your application will be reviewed within 15 business days.
  5. Keep an eye out on the outcome of your application in your inbox.
Apply - Victorian placements (students from all universities) Apply - Interstate placements (University of Melbourne students only)

Current placement opportunities:

Gateway Health Student Psychology Clinic, Wangaratta

Find out more

Mansfield District Hospital

Catholic Education (Sandhurst Diocese)

Thrive Wellness & Consulting, Bendigo & Echuca

More Information

To find out more, or to apply for any of these placements, please contact:

Trish Thorpe
E: trish.thorpe@unimelb.edu.au or