NSW Metropolitan Allied Health Clinical Placement Grants
Requirements | Eligible area | FAQs | Further informationPlacement grants of up to $750 are offered each semester. Grants provide financial assistance to allied health students from a rural or remote background studying at rural universities with the travel and accommodation costs of metropolitan clinical placements. Grants are awarded on the basis of the duration of the placement and the cost of travel associated with accessing the placement.
Priority will be given to students who have not previously received a NSW Rural Allied Health Clinical Placement Grant, though past grant recipients may apply.
Requirements
To be eligible for a Metropolitan Allied Health Clinical Placement Grant you must:
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Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and a resident of NSW.
- Have resided in a rural or remote area in NSW for a minimum of five consecutive or eight cumulative years since the age of five and whose immediate family currently resides in a rural or remote area of NSW.
- Be studying at a University in rural NSW (Charles Sturt University, Southern Cross University or University of New England)
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Be enrolled as a full time NSW university student in a course in one of the following disciplines.
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Aboriginal / Indigenous Health
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Audiology
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Diagnostic Radiography
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Dietetics
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Exercise Physiology
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Genetic Counselling
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Hospital Laboratory Science
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Nuclear Medicine
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Occupational Therapy
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Optometry
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Oral Health (excl Dentistry)
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Orthoptics
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Orthotics / Prosthetics
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Physiotherapy
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Pre Hospital Care (Ambulance/Paramedics)
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Psychology
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Podiatry
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Radiation Therapy
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Rehabilitation Counselling
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Social Work
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Speech Pathology
- Second or higher year of an undergraduate course in any of the above listed disciplines.
- Either year of a post-graduate (entry level course) in any of the above listed disciplines.
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- Have confirmation from your Course Coordinator of your participation in a metropolitan clinical placement in NSW.
- Complete a questionnaire. Information about the questionnaire will be provided with your letter of acceptance.
- Be willing to participate in any longitudinal studies of the recruitment of allied health professionals to rural practice.
Eligible area
The term “metropolitan” refers to areas covered by metropolitan Local Health Districts:
- Sydney
- Western Sydney
- South Western Sydney
- South Eastern Sydney
- Northern Sydney
- Central Coast
- Nepean Blue Mountains (excluding: Lithgow LGA)
- Hunter New England metropolitan components (Cessnock, Maitland, Port Stephens, Newcastle, and Lake Macquarie LGA)
- Illawarra Shoalhaven metropolitan components (Kiama, and Shellharbour LGA)
A map is able to be found at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/rural/alliedhealth/map.asp
FAQs
My placement is in Canberra, am I eligible?
No. Canberra is part of ACT, this grant is only for NSW metropolitan areas. "Metropolitan" is within the Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong areas.
I am an international student, am I eligible?
No. You have to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
Are Pharmacy students eligible to apply?
Pharmacy students are able to claim reimbursement from the University through the Rural and Remote Placement (internship) Allowance Scheme. Therefore they are not eligible.
Do I have to come from a rural background to apply for the grant?
Yes. You have to have lived in a rural or remote area for at least five consecutive years or eight cumulative years since the age of five and have immediate family current residing in a rural or remote area.
I would like to experience working in metropolitan NSW. How do I get the clinical placement?
We don’t arrange placements, check with your course coordinator.
I am planning on taking a metropolitan placement in the next semester. Do I apply now?
No, please apply in the next semester. Please refer to the guidelines for the time frame.
Why did my friend receive more money than me?
The amount of the grant will vary dependent upon the duration of the placement, and the distance you need to travel to your placement.
I am a nursing student, can I apply for the grant?
Nursing have their own grant. You can obtain the information on their website at http://www.health.nsw.gov/nursing/scholar.html
Can students at Universities in Wollongong and Newcastle apply?
No. The Scholarships are only for students at Universities outside the greater metropolitan area (Sydney, Newcastle or Wollongong).
When will I receive the money?
Payment will be made generally within three months after the closing date, however unexpected delays sometimes occur.
Some of my friends have received the money, why haven’t I received it yet?
Funds are batch-processed and due to the large number of applicants, some students may receive payment sooner than others.
It has been more than five months since the closing date, why haven’t I received the cheque?
Please note that we don’t send cheques, payment will be made by Electronic Funds Transfer into the recipient’s selected bank account. You need to check your statements to determine if the payment has been deposited.
I received the NSW Clinical Placement Grant last year, can I apply again for this year?
Yes, but priority may be given to applicants who have not previously received a grant.
Can I apply for a grant for more than one placement?
Yes you may, provided it’s a placement in a different location and attached with a letter from the course coordinator.
I applied for the NSW Rural Allied Health Scholarship, can I apply for the grant?
Yes, but your Clinical Placement Grant will be cancelled if you are successful in getting the NSW Rural Allied Health Scholarship.
What happens if my placement is cancelled?
You have to inform us straight away, and if you have already received the grant, you will need to return it.
Further information
Administration for NSW Rural Allied Health Scholarships and NSW Allied Health Clinical Placement Grants are now managed by HETI.
For further enquiries about this scholarship please visit HETI website: http://www.heti.nsw.gov.au/funding/