Human services workforce scholarships
Fact Sheet

A scholarship is an award of financial aid for the professional development of the human services workforce. The scholarships support department or sector employees to undertake study in 2018 and/or 2019 in an undergraduate or postgraduate course, or a course that leads to a qualification. The scholarship covers course fees only.

There are four types of scholarships available:

  1. Disability scholarships.
  2. Housing scholarships
  3. Child Protection scholarships.
  4. Disability Development Support Office (DDSO) Senior Leadership scholarships.

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Scholarship Eligibility

Disability and Housing scholarships

To be eligible for a Disability or Housing scholarship, applicants must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident of Australia and employed by:

·  the Department of Health and Human Services (Vic)

·  a community service organisation funded by the Department of Health and Human Services (Vic) under the Disability Act 2006, or

·  community service organisation with funding from ‘Transitional Housing Management’, ‘National Partnership Agreement - Homelessness’, and/or ‘National Affordable Housing Agreement’, or

·  homelessness organisations funded through the Department of Health and Human Services

Employees working in the following areas are encouraged to apply:

·  departmental employees employed under the HACSU Award or sector employees working in disability (NB these scholarships may be carried with you in the event that you move to a different area in disability service)

·  departmental or sector employees working in the housing/homelessness sector

DDSO Senior Leadership Scholarship

To be eligible for a DDSO Senior Leadership scholarship (2 scholarships are available to the value of $8,000 each) applicants must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident of Australia and employed by:

·  the Department of Health and Human Services (Vic)

·  classified within the DDSO management structure.

DDSO employees interested in the study areas of “developing a new job pathway” or leadership are encouraged to apply.

Child Protection scholarship

To be eligible for a Child Protection scholarship (20 scholarships are available to the value of $8,000 each) applicants must:

·  be employed by the Department of Health and Human Services (Vic)

·  be ongoing Child protection employees classified as CPP3 and above with at least two years length of service

·  demonstrate a commitment to stay at the Department of Health and Human Services for the duration of the course.

Priority will be given to Australian citizens, followed by New Zealand citizens/permanent residents of Australia then those on working visas.

Two scholarships of up to $8,000 each are also available for staff classified as Children Youth and Families (CYF) working in Secure Welfare Services and Hurstbridge Farm.

Applying for a scholarship

Applications for financial aid are completed online. The next application round opens on Tuesday 13 June 2017.

Selection process

Applicants compete for a scholarship - they are not awarded on the basis of the application alone.

A panel of representatives from government, community service organisations, educational bodies, relevant unions and service users will assess the applications.

The scholarship program will target qualifications identified as ‘preferred’ for job roles in the human services sector.

While the decision of the selection panel is final, an unsuccessful applicant may request feedback from the panel to assist them in future applications.

All applicants will be advised in writing of the outcome of their application within six weeks of the closing date.

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Enrolling in a course

Once applicants have received written confirmation they been successful in their application, they should enrol in the approved course of study. It is the responsibility of the individual to enrol in their course.

Some course providers will require payment up front and require evidence that the Department of Health and Human Services will fund course fees. Upon request, the department can send an “Authority to invoice” letter to applicants for this purpose.

Please note that being awarded a scholarship is not a guarantee of acceptance into the course. As with any publically available course, positions offered are at the discretion of the course provider.

Payment of scholarship funds

Payment of scholarship monies may be done in two ways:

Option 1: The course provider may invoice DHHS directly for course fees (up to the maximum scholarship amount). The applicant should provide the course provider with the requested “Authority to invoice” letter.

Option 2: Upon the provision of receipts, the department may reimburse the individual for course fees paid.

Note for DHHS staff only:

1.  If you choose to complete your study part time, the scholarship will be considered as additional income for taxation purposes.

2.  If you choose to complete your study part time and take up the option of paying via the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) the scholarship will attract Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT). The department will pay this FBT (in addition to the awarded scholarship amount) on behalf of the staff member. For FBT amounts exceeding $2,000, the staff member will then receive a Reportable Fringe Benefits Amount on their Payment Summary.

Scholarship conditions

·  Scholarship funds will be used solely for course fees incurred for the approved course of study, as detailed in the “letter of scholarship offer”.

·  The scholarship amount stated on the “letter of scholarship offer” is the maximum amount of money that the department will contribute towards course fees, under the DHHS study scholarship program.

·  Scholarship funds will only be paid for course fees relating to study in 2018 and/or 2019. Scholarship monies are paid after the “Confirmation of Enrolment form” has been returned.

·  Scholarship monies are only paid on receipt of a compliant Australian Taxation Office (ATO) invoice.

·  If scholarship monies are not used by the successful applicant within the specified two year period, any remaining scholarship funds will be forfeited.

·  In the case where scholarship monies do not cover full fees of the approved course, the successful applicant will be responsible for the payment/costs of any remaining fees.

·  Scholarship funds are not transferable to another person.

·  Individuals can only apply for one scholarship per year.

·  Successful applicants will need to apply for study leave in line with departmental policy.

·  The Department of Health and Human Services, People and Culture Branch must be notified of any leave of absence or withdrawal from a course as soon as possible.

·  In the event that courses are not completed, individuals are required to reimburse the department for awarded scholarship amount.

·  Successful applicants must provide evidence of their enrolment and continued study to the department upon request.

·  Evidence of course completion must be provided to the department as soon as possible.

·  Any proposed changes to the approved course of study, (e.g. the duration of study or commencement date) requires approval by the Manager, Talent Capability and Learning, Department of Health and Human Services.

Contact Information

For general enquiries about the human services workforce scholarship program, please contact Sarah Rossi (03) 9096 5760 (Tuesday or Friday) or Heidi Preston (03) 9096 1665 or email .

To receive this publication in an accessible format email or phone Sarah Rossi on 9096 5760 (Tuesday or Friday) or Heidi Preston (03) 9096 1665
Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.
© State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human Services May 2017.
Available at <https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/human-services-scholarship-and-ethel-temby-research-grant-program

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