THE HON MARK BUTLER MP
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing
MEDIA RELEASE
7 October 2010
BOOST FOR AGED CARE NURSES TRAINING
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler today announced a new round of
scholarships under the Supporting a Professional Aged Care Workforce Program.
“The scholarships available under this program provide aged care nurses with
training focussed on improving clinical care and creating career paths in aged care,”
Mr Butler said.
“Successful applicants will be able to undertake studies relating to aged care,
including continuing education courses, postgraduate studies and courses leading to
a nurse practitioner qualification.
“By supporting appropriate training for existing aged care workers to develop
necessary skills, we will improve recruitment and retention of aged care nurses and
deliver quality care to the increasing ageing population.
“We are committed to far-reaching reform of our health and aged care system, and
part of this will be support for a professional and qualified aged care workforce.”
“These reforms will build on our current strengths and reshape the system to better
meet the needs of patients and health care in the 21st century.”
Funding for the program was provided in the 2010-11 Budget and includes support
for up to 1,240 aged care postgraduate scholarships and continuing education
scholarships over four years and up to 40 aged care nurse practitioner scholarships
over four years.
Registered nurses can apply for postgraduate and nurse practitioner scholarships
worth up to $15,000 a year for two years. Enrolled and registered nurses will be
eligible for continuing education scholarships worth up to $3,000 for conference
attendance, $5,000 for short courses or workshops and up to $6,000 over a two-year
period for re-entry courses.
Applications for the scholarships open today and will close on 4 November 2010.
Interested nurses should contact the Royal College of Nursing Australia on 1800 116
MEDIA CONTACT: Samantha Regione 0418 112 688
NEWS 
