ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Be an Australian Citizen or hold a Permanent Resident visa and be registered with AHPRA
• Be enroled to be studying to become a Nurse Practitioner and provide evidence to support this
• Must meet one of the selection criteria listed
  • A Nurse Practitioner Student working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
  • and/or 
  • A Nurse Practitioner Student working in a Rural and Remote area

Please note: Rural and Remote is defined by the Modified Monash Model classifications MM6 and MM7

Click here for the Modified Monash Model – fact sheet | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

SELECTION CRITERIA

The selection criteria will be addressed using the following questions:

1. How does your present career pathway fit the criteria of ATSI or Rural & Remote?
2. What is your past history in this field, and what motivated your initial interest?
3. How would you benefit from attending the conference?
4. Why should you be awarded this scholarship?
5. Please outline and describe your eligibility (max 500 words) in relation to your role as a Nurse Practitioner Student 
    

TIME FRAMES:

• Nominations open 26 March 2025
• Nominations close 30 May 2025
• Recipients will be notified by 16 July 2025 to enable booking of transport and accommodation for attendance at the 2025 ACNP National Conference, to be held 29-31 October 2025 at the National Convention Centre, Canberra, ACT.

• Official presentation at the ACNP National Conference Gala Awards Dinner, 31 October 2025.  

JUDGING:
The judging will be conducted by the ACNP Awards and Scholarships Committee.
Final recommendations will go to the National Board for endorsement.
Please note that the judge’s decision is final.

PRIVACY:
Applicants' submissions are provided only to the judging panel.

RECIPIENT OBLIGATION

Successful applicants must be able to attend the ACNP National Conference in the same calendar year as attaining the scholarship, and are required to submit a brief report to the ACNP Board within three months of attendance, outlining how the scholarship benefited them.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

1. Late submissions will not be accepted.
2. Submissions that do not address the criteria will not be considered.
3. All applications must be made via the online application forms with attachments uploaded in PDF format.
4. All announcements are to be held in confidence until the formal presentation at the ACNP National Conference Gala Awards Dinner.

2025 Scholarship Criteria Form - QUT Rural & Remote Student Scholarship

Applications Close 30 May 2025
Online applications only.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Ensure you upload the complete versions of the application form

Elizabeth Oakley

Elizabeth is an enthusiastic, passionate Ophthalmic Nurse. I have worked as a full time Ophthalmic Nurse from 2013 as an Enrolled Nurse, progressing on to Registered Nurse, Post Grad in Ophthalmic Nursing to my masters' Nurse Practitioner all while full time working at Southwest Eye Surgeons in Bunbury WA. I have always has a passion for indigenous health and decided to seize the opportunity to work on Thursday Island for a couple of years to gain invaluable experience.

QUT representative Suzanne Williams with Winner and ACNP CEO Leanne Boase

Christine Perrett

I am a remote area nurse with extensive experience in primary health, particularly with indigenous populations. I am a RIPRN endorsed RN, midwife and child health nurse and am credentialled to provide cervical screening. I have mainly worked in WA, NT and QLD in a variety of settings but mostly enjoy experiences “off the beaten track”. I first came to the Torres Straits 20 years ago and got hooked whilst working in the outer islands. I continued to move around a little but nothing else quite compared, so I returned. I have been working on Moa Island now for a little over 12 years and feel as though it’s the best job I have ever had. My scope of practice is broad, and I work very autonomously in a single nurse post. There are some limitations in my scope of practice however, that disadvantage my vulnerable community, particularly in managing chronic diseases. The next step for me then, is to become endorsed as a NP so that I can better manage chronic diseases and contribute towards closing the health gap.

QUT representative Dr Jane Currie. with winner Christine Perrett.

Grace Payne – Queensland (NP) Primary Health and Jeffrey Faccenda – South Australia (NP) Emergency & Acute Care

Congratulations Grace.

Grace has a passion for remote and Indigenous Nursing, and this alone has been the driving force behind her ambition to become a Nurse Practitioner. Grace sees the need for Nurse Practitioners in these locations and the real difference that they can make. The ability to provide a holistic, reliable service without the need for referral, await outreach medical services or transfer to other facilities sees better outcomes and attendance by clients. With a predominantly fly in fly out work force in remote locations continuity of care is difficult to achieve. Despite this, nurses are seen to be the stable workforce and therefore communities could benefit from in house Nurse Practitioners.

Congratulations Jeffrey.

Jeffrey’s enthusiasm for rural health stems from his rural upbringing, experiences on placement as a rural nursing student, and a strong belief in equitable healthcare for all no matter the geographical location. As an undergraduate Jeffrey was fortunate to be selected for the Flinders University Rural Health Society Rural and Remote Scholarship to attend the Wakakirri festival in the NT and tour several remote health services, to experience the benefits and challenges of rural and remote practice. This motivated Jeffrey to structure his career to build a solid foundation of emergency skills with the aim of working rurally when he considers his skills were sufficient to be an effective practitioner in an isolated environment.

Congratulations to Rebecca Evans

Recipient Rebecca Evans (left) with ACNP President Leanne Boase

"What an honour it was to attend this year's ACNP Conference in Melbourne as the QUT Scholarship recipient... I was able to network with colleagues from the Central West of NSW but also had the opportunity to meet with other Nurse Practitioners from a multitude of specialities and found them all to be open in sharing their own NP Journey.  Hearing their stories and simply being around people who were passionate about what they do, encouraged me on my journey." 

See the full refection from Rebecca below: 

Reflection from Rebecca Evans – Recipient of 2019 QUT/ACNP Conference Student Scholarship

2017 - Emma Metcalfe-Nash

2016 - Rebecca Philp