Regional and rural NSW Health staff will have the opportunity to develop important new skills in mental health support thanks to a $120,000 NSW Government investment in mental health education scholarships.

Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said eligible clinical and non-clinical staff working in regional and rural Local Health Districts will have access to the $3,000 scholarships to go towards studying a Certificate IV in Mental Health at TAFE NSW.

“Every year, almost one in five Australians will experience a mental illness. These scholarships will encourage our staff in rural and regional NSW to make a difference in the mental health of our communities,” Mrs Taylor said.

“These scholarships provide staff with a valuable opportunity to upskill, and explore this vital area of healthcare which they might not have considered as a career path previously.”

Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the NSW Government is delivering more opportunities than ever before to help people get the skills they need for a first job, a new job, or a better job, and this scholarship program is another great example of that.

“A strong regional and rural healthcare sector is critical to NSW. This investment builds on the NSW Government’s vision of robust regional communities by attracting, retaining and upskilling local workers,” Mr Henskens said.

The NSW Rural and Regional Mental Health Scholarship Program is available to NSW Health staff living in regional and rural Local Health Districts and will be delivered through TAFE NSW. Forty scholarships of $3,000 for a Certificate IV in Mental Health are available to eligible NSW Health staff who currently work in clinical and non-clinical roles.

More information is available online at TAFE NSW