Palliative Care Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship Program Guidelines

Transcription

1 Palliative Care Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship Program Guidelines

2 Gippsland Region Palliative Care Consortium The Gippsland Region Palliative Care Consortium (GRPCC) is one of eight regional consortia established as part of the Victorian Government s Strengthening palliative care: a policy for health and community care providers The work of the GRPCC is guided by the government s current policy, Strengthening palliative care: Policy and strategic directions The GRPCC is an alliance of 14 member agencies across Gippsland. The mission of the GRPCC is to establish a framework for promoting and delivering high quality palliative health care services in partnership with clients, carers, families and the community for the people in the Gippsland Region. The GRPCC is committed to building palliative care workforce capacity and capability in Gippsland. This commitment was reflected in the implementation of a new scholarship program for nursing and allied health professionals in 2013 as well as the GRPCC Medical Practitioner Palliative Care Scholarship Program (refer to the GRPCC Medical Practitioner Palliative Care Scholarship Program Guidelines ). Palliative Care Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship Program Scholarships are still available for registered or endorsed nurses, and allied health professionals for workforce development activities (activities) that will enhance the provision of palliative care within Gippsland. Activities may include: education and training, including postgraduate studies, attendance at conferences, clinical placements or participating in mentoring programs with an appropriate health care professional. Scholarship Funding Details Funding is limited to up to $10,000 per applicant for postgraduate study. Funding is limited to up to $1,000 for all other activities. Funding is available for the calendar year 2014 only. Funding can be used for university fees, training workshops/courses, conference registration, travel costs (e.g. train travel, economy class domestic airfares, award rate mileage) and accommodation (up to a maximum of $200 per night). Funding for workforce/team development must identify the needs of the group/team and specify the number of people included in the proposed activity. What will not be Funded Funding is not available for meals, parking or international airfares. Funding is not available for individual membership to a professional body or organisation. 1 5

3 Funding is not available to health services to backfill positions whilst scholars are undertaking activities. Applicants receiving funding through other sources to participate in activities are not eligible to apply for funding for the same activities. Scholarship Application Requirements All sections of the Application Form must be completed. Applications must be received by Monday 1 December Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Supporting documentation, such as course outline, conference overview or any other information to support the application must be submitted as an attachment to the application. All mentoring applications must include a letter of support from the mentor. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by mail. Selection Criteria 1. Applicants must be a nurse or allied health professional and currently working for a health service (hospital, community or primary care practice) in the Gippsland region. 2. Applicants require the support of their manager, including support for absence from the workplace and sharing of additional expenses if required. 3. Activities must be palliative care related or focused with clear linkages to palliative care service improvement. 4. Activities must be relevant to the applicant s current employment position within Gippsland. 5. Applicants are required to share key learnings of any activities within their organisation and with the GRPCC community. Application Assessment Applications will be assessed against the above selection criteria by the GRPCC Executive. A GRPCC representative may contact the applicant to obtain further information if required. Preference will be given to applicants who are: a) directly involved in GRPCC activities (e.g. Clinical Practice Group members or Multidisciplinary care team meeting attendees); b) actively working with the GRPCC to implement service improvement activities outlined in the Strengthening palliative care: Policy and strategic directions ; or c) applying to attend conferences who have, or plan to submit, abstracts or poster presentations. 2 5

4 Consideration will also be given to the quality of the activity and the need for specific skills in the region. Scholarship Fund Release Funds will be reimbursed to applicants upon the successful completion of the funded activity. Under exceptional circumstances the GRPCC may consider releasing funding prior to completing the activities (details should be discussed with Anny Byrne, GRPCC Project Officer). The GRPCC will distribute the funds by EFT or cheque as nominated by the applicant. Prior to the release of funding, applicants are required to: successfully complete the activity; submit a statement of expenses and receipts within four weeks of completion of the activity; complete a GRPPC Scholarship Program Evaluation Form within four weeks of finishing the activity; provide a short written report (up to 300 words) suitable for publication in the GRPCC newsletter and website within four weeks of completing the activity, outlining the key lessons learned; acknowledge the GRPCC and participation in the GRPCC Palliative Care Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship Program when preparing any communication materials relating to the activity, including presentations, discussion papers and journal articles; and organise their own registrations, mentoring arrangements or any other arrangements associated with the activity, where applicable. Application Submission Completed Application Forms and supporting documentation must be received by the due date Monday 1 December 2014 and can be posted to: GRPCC Scholarship Program Cottage 4 West Gippsland Hospital Landsborough Street WARRAGUL VIC 3820 or sent electronically to: Melissa Spargo, GRPCC Administration Officer Melissa.spargo@wghg.com.au For enquiries about the Scholarship Program or application process contact Anny Byrne, GRPCC Project Officer on or Anny.Byrne@wghg.com,au. 3 5

5 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: Can I apply for a GRPCC scholarship if I have already received, or expect to receive, support from another funding source? A: Yes. You can apply for top-up funding for a GRPCC Palliative Care Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship to meet the total costs of an eligible activity. You must declare any other funding sources on your application form. The GRPCC Palliative Care Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship provides funding for eligible activities up to $10,000 per annum. For example, if you have applied for a Postgraduate Palliative Care Scholarship from Palliative Care Victoria which caps funding at $3,500 ($4,500 for eligible health professionals working in rural areas), you can apply for top-up funding from the GRPCC for your postgraduate studies. Q: Do I have to declare my scholarship to the taxation department? A: Yes. Scholarship funds are considered to be taxable income. Q: Do I have to do anything in return for the scholarship for the GRPCC? A: Yes. If you receive a GRPCC Palliative Care Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship, you are expected to share key learnings within your organisation and the wider GRPCC community. When preparing any communication materials relating to the activity, including presentations, discussion papers and journal articles, you will need to acknowledge the GRPCC Scholarship Program. You will also be required to submit a short written report suitable for publication in the GRPCC newsletter and website within four weeks of completing the funded activity. Q: What if I don t finish my course, do I have to pay back the scholarship? A: Scholarship funds will be reimbursed to applicants at the successful completion of the funded activity. Under the GRPCC Medical Practitioner Palliative Care Scholarship Program, if an applicant fails to meet the requirements of the postgraduate education program, (e.g. fails a subject or discontinues the education program) no funds will be made available for the previous semester. Q: Can I apply for a Scholarship for the second year of a two-year course? A: Yes. 4 5

6 Q: How many times can I apply for a Scholarship? A: Preference will be given to applicants who haven t already received a GRPCC scholarship, however the aim of the Scholarship Program is build palliative care workforce capacity and capability in the region therefore all applications will be considered on merit and assessed accordingly. Q: Do I have to be a palliative care nurse to apply for the GRPCC Palliative Care Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship Program? A: No. The aim of the scholarship is to build palliative care workforce capacity and capability in Gippsland. You must be a registered or enrolled nurse, or an allied health professional and currently working in the region. Q: If I am a casual employee, can I apply for the GRPCC Palliative Care Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship Program? A: Yes, however please note that applicants require the support of their manager and funded activities must be relevant to the applicant s current employment position. Preference will be given to applicants who are directly involved in GRPCC activities. 5 5