The Department of Health and Human Services (the department) is committed to improving the lives of people in Victoria and develops and delivers policies, programs and services that support and enhance the wellbeing of all Victorians. The department takes a broad view of the causes of ill health, the drivers of good health, the social and economic context in which people live, and of the incidence and experience of vulnerability. This enables the department to place people at the heart of policy-making, service design and delivery.
The vision of the department is to support and enhance the health and well-being of all Victorians, emphasising vulnerable groups and those most in need.
INTRAIN scholarships
The department will be offering a limited number of INTRAIN scholarships in 2018. INTRAIN scholarships support employment participation and opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria
To qualifyapplicants must meet all of the following criteria to be considered for a scholarship. If an applicant cannot meet all the eligibility criteria requirements the application will not be considered.
Completed applications will be accepted in hard copy or by email to
Ensure these are signed as appropriate and all relevant information is attached including certified university enrolment information;confirmation of Aboriginality; academic transcripts and academic referee endorsement.
Mandatory confirmation of Aboriginality
INTRAIN scholarships are only offered to individuals of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent in Victoria.
Individuals MUST submit a completed and certified statement confirming their descent.
A confirmation statement form can be obtained from Aboriginal medical services, Aboriginal legal centres, Aboriginal sporting organisations or Aboriginal land councils.
Once completed the statement must be certified by the issuing organisation.
Status of studies
INTRAIN scholarships will assist eligible students to complete their studies by providing a fortnightly living allowance to enable the recipient to achieve one of the following outcomes:
•the last one or two years of an undergraduate course
•the last one or two years of a postgraduate course
•a nationally accredited diploma course.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
•be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent
•identify as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
•be accepted by the Aboriginal community in which she/he lives or has lived as a member of that community
•currently reside in Victoria or be based in Victoria
•have a desire to work for the Department of Health and Human Services; the Victorian Public Service or the health and/or community services sector in Victoria;
•must be undertaking a nationally accredited diploma or undergraduate course or post graduate course and be willing to meet the study load requirements for the scholarship (see below).
Financial assistance
Applicants must not be receiving any financial assistance for their studiesother than Abstudy. Applicants awarded an INTRAIN scholarship can not access any other financial assistance for their studies. Successful applicants will be required to provide a statutory declaration verifying that they satisfy this criterion.
In addition successful applicants:
•will not be entitled to undertake full time work while receiving the INTRAIN scholarship
•must be in the final one or two years of their course of study
•must not have previously received an INTRAIN scholarship
•must be willing to sign, and be bound by and comply with, the department’s INTRAIN scholarship agreement.
If you have any questions about the eligibility criteria please contact the Ms Prue Stewart, Principal Adviser, Aboriginal Engagement on 9096 9283 and email
Scholarship assessment process
INTRAIN scholarships will be awarded on the basis of merit based on the applicant’s ability to satisfy the eligibility criteria and the following additional considerations:
•the relevance of the applicant’s course of study to a career within the department, the Victorian public service or the health and/or community services sector in Victoria
•the applicant’s prior academic performance in the course of study and the applicant’s demonstrated capacity to undertake and complete the relevant course of study
•the applicant’s interest in working in the department on completion of the course of study
•the applicant’s demonstrated participation in the Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community
•the outcome of referee checks and reports
•the assessment outcome of other applications for the scholarship
•any other matter or consideration that the department deems relevant.
While applications are welcome from all Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander tertiary students, the department will give priority to those students undertaking undergraduate studies, postgraduate studies or diplomas in the areas of health, community services or government administration, including:
•social work
•health, allied health and related fields
•community development and management
•public policy and administration
•accounting and finance
•housing including urban planning, research and architecture.
It is important to note that any diploma course being undertaken must be nationally accredited. Applicants are encouraged to verify that the course is nationally accredited before enrolling in a course.
Study load requirements
Applications forINTRAIN scholarships for students proposing to undertakefull or part time study in 2017will be considered. Applicants must be able to verify the study load for the course by providing the appropriate enrolment documentation certified by the educational institution at which they are undertaking the course of study.
Distance education
Applicants choosing to undertake distance education studies are eligible to apply for an INTRAIN scholarship provided that they meet the eligibility criteria. Applicants must be enrolled ata university or a TAFE institute and undertake afull time or part time study load.
Overseas study
Applicantsseeking to undertake studies overseas will be considered provided that they meet the eligibility criteria and can demonstrate outstanding academic performance in prior related studies.
Scholarship selection process
Applications will be assessed by the INTRAIN scholarship selection panel (selection panel)against the eligibility criteria and the assessment criteria and will take into consideration the applicant’s written application; the applicant’s interview (see below) and any referee checks/reports.
Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria will be invited to discuss their applications with the selection panel. For Victorian applicants, reasonable travel and accommodation costs to attend interview will be reimbursed if these are approved by the department beforehand.
INTRAIN scholarship entitlements
The INTRAIN scholarship provides a fortnightly living allowance to students while they are studying (scholarship allowance).
In 2018, the department will offer scholarships valued at $25,470 per year, paid on a fortnightly basis to successful applicants studying full time.
The department will offer a reduced scholarship allowance for part time students who are successful applicants.The amount of the scholarship offered to part time students will be determined by the department taking into account of the study load and particular circumstances. These will be assessed on a case by case basis.
The department will commence paying the scholarship allowance to successful applicants at the beginning of the 2018 academic year.The first payment of the fortnightly scholarship allowance will be made on a date to be determined by the department. Payment will be subject to receipt of a fully completed and signed INTRAIN scholarship agreement.
Note: Recipients of the INTRAIN scholarship remain fully responsible for all costs and fees associated with their course of study, including course fees and the purchase of books etc.
INTRAIN scholarship requirements
During the term of the INTRAIN scholarship recipients will be required to:
•achieve satisfactory academic results for all subjects undertaken in respect of the course of study and provide the department with copies of academic results at the end of each semester
•remain enrolled in their course of study and provide the department with satisfactory proof of enrolment at the commencement of each semester
•provide information regarding academic progress including plans to vary studies. Deferral of studies required the department’s approval
•advise any change of subjects or contact details including change in bank details, change of address and contact telephone numbers to the department within seven days
•ensure that they are not concurrently enrolled in any other tertiary course of study, without the prior written approval of their educational institution and the department
•ensure that they do not undertake employment
•provide a valid statutory declaration stating that – with the exception of Abstudy– the recipient is not, and will not, be in receipt of any financial assistance for their studies
•maintain the department’s confidence by demonstrating honesty in all dealings, regularly and conscientiously performing their studies and complying with all rules governing the conduct of students at the educational institution at which they are enrolled
•provide all necessary consents and authorities to enable the department to obtain information about related to the INTRAIN scholarship from the educational institution;
•cooperate and participate in the department’s monitoring processes for the INTRAIN scholarship, including providing the department with any information reasonably requested for such purposes; and
•comply with the terms of the INTRAIN scholarship agreement.
Termination and repayment of the scholarship allowance
The department can terminate the INTRAIN scholarship where the recipient:
•fails to meet or fulfil any of the above requirements
•withdraws from their course of study or defers their studies contrary to the terms of the INTRAIN scholarship agreement and without the department’s approval.
In this situation the recipient will be required to repay the full scholarship allowance paid by the departmentfor the semester during which the agreement was terminated within 30 days of termination.
•where the recipient has made false or misleading statements including their application for INTRAIN scholarship
In this situation the scholarship agreement will be terminated and the recipient will be required to repay the full amount of the scholarship allowance paid within 30 days of termination.
Deferral of studies
Recipients cannot defer their studies in the first semester of the first year that the scholarship is offered. If there are exceptional circumstances preventing the recipient from completing their studies during this period a decision will be at the department’s absolute discretion.
Recipient requests to defer studies during the term of the INTRAIN scholarship will be considered by the department on a case by case basis.
Ongoing employment
The department does not promise, guarantee or represent that the INTRAIN scholarship recipients will be offered employment by the department or any other third party organisation at the end of the scholarship.
Completion of course of study and additional scholarship assistance
Scholarship recipients are required to finish their course of study during the term of the INTRAIN scholarship. A failure by recipients to achieve satisfactory progressin their studies could result in the department deciding to terminate or suspend the scholarship.The department will make every attempt to hold discussions with an INTRAIN scholarship recipient if termination of the scholarship is being considered.Additional financial assistance to complete an extended course of study is unlikely to be approved.
Taxation
The INTRAIN living allowance is considered to be exempt from tax pursuant to section 51-10 of the Income Tax Assessment ACT 1997 for full time students.
Application
Applications for the scholarship mustbe submitted using the INTRAIN scholarship application form.
The INTRAIN scholarship application form can be downloaded from the department’s website
Alternatively contact the department’s Principal Adviser, Aboriginal Engagement, Ms Prue Stewart on 9096 9283 or email to requesting a copy of the form or for further information.
Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.
Applications close Midnight Sunday1October 2017.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all information requested is provided with the application.This includes certified university enrolment information; confirmation of Aboriginality; academic transcripts and academic referee endorsementand other supporting documentation.
Completed applications
Fully completed applications – inclusive of certified university enrolment information; academic transcripts, confirmation of Aboriginality and academic referee endorsement– can be submitted in hard copy or via email marked INTRAIN scholarship application to:
Department of Health and Human Services
Attention: Ms Prue Stewart, Principal Adviser, Aboriginal Engagement
Diversity and Inclusion Unit, People and Culture Branch
Level 5, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000
Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.
© State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human Services September, 2017.
Except where otherwise indicated, the images in this publication show models and illustrative settings only, and do not necessarily depict actual services, facilities or recipients of services. This publication may contain images of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Where the term ‘Aboriginal’ is used it refers to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Indigenous is retained when it is part of the title of a report, program or quotation.
Available atAboriginal Employment
Aboriginal employment INTRAIN guidelines 20181