The ANMF (Vic Branch) has provided more than $685,600 in the 2019–20 financial year to support 193 nurse and midwife members in undertaking postgraduate education.
The members are undertaking education in midwifery and in the nursing specialities of renal; peri-operative; mental health; palliative care; emergency; intensive care; critical care; child, family and community care; and alcohol and other drugs. ANMF (Vic Branch) received 464 applications for this year’s round of education grants.
Just over a third of the fee grant funding went to regional members, an increase in regional funding of 6.7 per cent from 2018–19. Just over 20 per cent of members who received fee grants – 41 members – were undertaking postgraduate midwifery education.
Members are eligible to apply for fee grants if they have been an ANMF (Vic Branch) member for at least two years and continue to be a member throughout their course. For the 2019–20 round, the Branch identified 12 speciality areas of practice to preference in deciding between applications.
The speciality areas are:
1. Perioperative or perianaesthesia nursing
2. Postgraduate midwifery
3. Mental health nursing
4. Palliative care nursing
5. Renal nursing
6. Critical care nursing
7. Emergency nursing
8. Intensive care nursing
9. Advanced diploma of nursing
10. Addictive behaviours (alcohol and other drugs)
11. Maternal and child health nursing
12. Diploma of alcohol and other drugs for enrolled nurses.
The 2019–20 fee grant total was higher than last year’s total, when ANMF (Vic Branch) distributed more than $485,100 to 152 members. In 2017-18 102 members were awarded $350,000 in fee grants for postgraduate education.
ANMF (Vic Branch) Secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said the Branch was pleased to support nurse and midwife members across Victoria in gaining further skills, knowledge and qualifications.
‘The fee grants are a significant investment in advancing the knowledge and career opportunities of ANMF members and benefit the whole Victorian community, as these postgraduate courses translate into improved specialised care for patients and residents.’
The 2020-21 round of ANMF (Vic Branch) education fee grants will open on 21 January 2021. The ANMF Victorian Branch Council has decided to raise the total funding available in 2020-21 to $750,000.
