The Western NSW Local Health District Scholarship for Graduate Certificate Students

1.      Background

a.      This Scholarship was established in 2024 to provide financial support to registered nurses in the Western NSW Local Health District for Nurse Practitioner Pathways to study at the University of Sydney.

b.      This Scholarship is funded by Western NSW Local Health District as part of an approval process prior to enrolment with the University of Sydney.

2.      Eligibility

a.       The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission or being currently enrolled in one of the following Graduate Certificate courses with the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney.

   I.           Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing

   II.          Graduate Certificate in Cancer and Haematology Nursing

   III.         Graduate Certificate in Emergency Nursing

   IV.         Graduate Certificate in Intensive Care Nursing

b.      Applicants must be Australian citizens.

c.      Applicants must be employed as a Registered Nurse in the Western NSW Local Health District.

3.      Selection Criteria

a.      This scholarship is awarded to applicants who meet the eligibility criteria by the Western NSW Local Health District. No application is required.

4.      Value

a.      The scholarship is valued at $2,371 per annum and is tenable for 1 year.

b.      Where a recipient has been approved to study part-time:

      I.          the amount awarded for each relevant semester will be the pro rata value of the full-time rate, and

      II.          the duration of the scholarship will be extended to match the equivalent full-time duration of the program.

c.      All scholarship payments will be paid after the relevant census date of each semester.

d.      Deferral and suspension of the Scholarship is not permitted without the prior permission of the Director Academic Education.

e.      The scholarship is not transferable to another University school, faculty or university.

f.       The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funds.

g.      No other amount is payable.

5.      Ongoing eligibility

a.      To continue receipt of the Scholarship, the recipient must:

       I.          maintain a minimum Semester Average Mark (SAM) of 50 each semester, and

       II.          remain enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit points each semester in their eligible course.

b.      The recipient may request to study less than 6 credit points in a semester where they can demonstrate a medical condition or other significant hardship that has impacted their ability to successfully undertake the required workload. Requests must be approved by the Director Academic Education prior to the commencement of the reduced workload.

c.      Recipients undertaking an exchange during the tenure of this Scholarship are required to have achieved a Satisfied Requirements grade (SR) to receive their next payment.

6.      Termination

a.      The Scholarship will be terminated if the recipient:

          I.          withdraws from an eligible course or fails to enrol,

          II.          enrols in less than 6 credit points in a semester without prior approval from the Director Academic Education,

          III.          undertakes a leave of absence without prior approval from the Director Academic Education,

           IV.          does not maintain satisfactory academic performance,

           V.          is determined by the University to be guilty of serious misconduct, including, but not limited to, having provided false or misleading information as part of their Scholarship application, or

           VI.          does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave.

b.      Once the Scholarship has been terminated, it will not be reinstated unless due to University error.  

c.      Where a student is found guilty of serious misconduct or the Scholarship is terminated under any instance in the Termination Clause of these terms and conditions, the University reserves the right to request that any Scholarship funds paid to the Scholarship recipient be reimbursed.