Scholarships
Department of Health, Victoria: Rural Emergency Nursing Scholarships
Applications have now closed for the 2025 Health Region - Barwon South West Region (Geelong and South Western Victoria). Details of the 2026 Health Region scholarship program will be announced in early 2025, with applications opening in July 2025.
In 2009 the Albert Coates Trust introduced a new range of scholarships offered specifically for the post-graduate training of rural emergency care nurses. The scholarships are designed to meet the course fee costs involved in the selected training program.
Scholarships are offered in three key areas for current Registered Nurses - Courses leading to Nurse Practitioner qualifications; undertaking an approved RIPERN (Regional & Isolated Practice Endorsed Registered Nurse) Program; and courses in Critical Care Nursing. Contact the Department of Health contact person listed below with questions about the eligibility of particular training courses.

Applications and Selection Process
Scholarships are invited from eligible registered nurses each year. Candidates must be employed in a regional health care service within the nominated region. The scholarships are for studies being undertaken between January and December 2025. The 2025 region is being conducted in the Barwon Health Region, with applications being accepted from July to September 2024. Applications have now closed. Interviews are conducted in November and applicants are notified after that.
Scholarships are presented each year at the discretion of the independant selection panel based on applications received and an interview. Interviews for the region selected will normally be conducted online in early November and award recipients advised after that.
For general enquiries, questions or concerns you should contact the Albert Coates Memorial Trust via the website email (
Previous Awardees for Rural Emergency Nursing, including Nurse Practitioner, RIPERN and Critical Care courses
-
2025
- Karen Stewart
-
2024
- Asha James
-
2023
- Gurjit Kaur Sangha
- William Wallace
- Stephanie Vick
-
2022
No Scholarship applications received.
-
2021
- Jeenmariam Lal
-
2020
- Bambi Reichman
- Melissa Gardner
- Elise Wright
-
2019
- Deborah Bennett
- Elizabeth Lawrence
- Kerryn Osborne
-
2018
- Jessica Noordewier
-
2017
- Amy Aeschlimann
- Vanessa Jenkins
-
2016
- Alison Noble
- Kellie Woodhouse
- Michelle Holland
- Ken Holland
- Nicole Magnisalis
- Susan White
- Lynne Coates
- Emma-Jane Lush
-
2015
- Bissy Ajithkumar
- Katherine Pitcher
- Sharon Bartlett
- Rebecca Kay
-
2014
- Judith Thomson
- Trish Heinrich
- Kate Pitcher
- Ros Thomas
-
2013
- Ruth Clifton
-
2012
- Margaret 'Jade' Beechey
- Susan Hollingworth
- Rachel Taylor
-
2011
- Debra Daniels
- Justine Rea
- Martin Starick
-
2009
- Elizabeth Newton
- Tricia Kinsey
-
2008
- Breanna Barber
- Carmen Grenfell
- Deborah Clancy