Going Rural Health Student Support Scheme 

The Going Rural Health Student Support Scheme has been developed to assist students with the associated costs of accommodation and travel when completing a clinical placement in a rural setting across Hume, Ovens, Murray, Goulburn, Ballarat and Grampians regions (see the map below for more information on the locations of these regions).

The policy below has further information including eligibility criteria.

GRH Bursary Policy 2020 V1

For eligible students, a payment of $30 per day of attendance (capped at $2,500) OR subsidised accommodation at University of Melbourne owned housing, for $50 per week (subject to availability) can be offered.

The amounts allocated will be decided on a case by case basis and will be at the discretion of the Going Rural Health team.

International students (students from New Zealand or who have refugee status are eligible to apply) are not eligible for finance or subsidised accommodation; however, they can access accommodation at UoM owned housing (subject to availability).

Students are to provide a completed Proof of Placement form no later than the 30th of November 2021 for Clinical Placements in the same calendar year.

Please note: it may take up to 5 days for your initial application to be reviewed. 

If your application has been successful, payment will be made via bank transfer and may take up to 4 weeks to be issued after receipt of all required documentation and completion of clinical placement.

The Going Rural Health team reserves the right to not award an allowance even if a student believes they meet all the eligibility criteria.

*Virtual or online placements

For those students completing an online or virtual placement, for the days where students are not required to be physically present, no bursary will be applied. Payment of funds will not apply for online or virtual placement days. Proof of attendance will be required with the supply to GRH of a proof of placement form signed by the supervisor.

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible to apply for the Going Rural Health Bursary and Accommodation Support the applicants must:

  • Be enrolled in a Nationally recognised nursing, allied health or other health science undergraduate or postgraduate degree with a recognised Australian University which requires the applicant to complete a compulsory
  • Be an Australian or New Zealand resident or have refugee status (evidence to be provided).
  • For RN and Allied Health students, placement must be a minimum of 2 weeks full time (no less than 4 days per week).
  • NOTE: Enrolled nursing students must complete a placement of minimum 4 weeks or more full time (no less than 4 days per week).
  • Register all details with the Going Rural Health team either prior to, during or within 30 days of completion of your clinical placement Rural Living Portal
  • Successfully complete clinical placement requirement and length.
  • Submit Proof of Placement form/s – Proof of Placement Form and complete the Student Placement Survey – Student placement survey within 30 days of completion of your placement –
  • Have not received any other scholarship or financial assistance to complete the clinical placement in which the student is applying
  • Students must meet a travel requirement of at least a minimum of 50km one way from their home to the location of their clinical placement

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students:

Funding is available as above and at no cost, students can also register to be involved in a dedicated mentoring program:

  • An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander health professional, where possible of the same discipline, is available to mentor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students throughout their placement. Please contact going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au for more details.

Those NOT eligible to apply for financial support:

  • Students receiving financial assistance or scholarships from other organisations including RWAV.
  • Students completing a placement as a paid Intern.
  • International students (students from New Zealand or who have refugee status are eligible to apply) can access accommodation at UoM owned housing (subject to availability).
  • Students completing placement in Melbourne metro or Geelong

For further information contact the Going Rural Health team via email: going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au

If you are not doing a placement in our footprint:

  • For Deakin UDRH regions (from the surf coast to the South Australian border, including Warrnambool, Colac, Hamilton & Portland), contact Deakin via this link: Deakin support
  • For Monash UDRH regions (Gippsland, including East Gippsland, Loddon-Mallee regions including Mildura, Swan Hill & Bendigo), contact Monash via this link: Monash Support
  • LaTrobe Rural Health School is based in Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga, Mildura and Shepparton. For accommodation at these sites see the following links: Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga, Mildura & Shepparton
  • Rural Workforce Agency of Victoria (RWAV) has rural clinical placement grants available. See this link for details: RWAV Grants
  • contact ARHEN for regions outside Victoria – https://arhen.org.au/about-udrhs/ to see what other UDRH’s may offer you.