Are you an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) worker looking to upskill and/or gain tertiary qualifications in mental health?

Do you want a career in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander SEWB and need qualifications to work in the mental health sector?

The Balit Durn Durn Centre (BDDC) is committed to ensuring that Mob can access culturally safe services and supports to help in their healing. A key initiative to achieving this is to grow the Aboriginal SEWB Workforce in Victoria. Growing the Aboriginal SEWB workforce ensures we have the best Community driven and delivered, culturally safe, health and wellbeing support for our people, by our people.

The Department of Health in partnership with the BDDC delivers the Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Scholarship Program to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to obtain recognised qualifications from three approved public tertiary providers.

The scholarships include all tuition and student amenity fees for the approved degree, financial supports through the duration of study and additional program supports to assist with other costs of studying and to participate in professional development opportunities.

Scholarships will be available for both clinical and therapeutic courses to ensure the SEWB workforce responds to the specific social and emotional wellbeing needs in our Communities.

The program is designed to be flexible for scholarship recipients. Recipients can study full time, part time, on campus and/or online (subject to course requirements) to support those with work commitments.

What eligibility criteria do I need to meet to apply for the scholarship program?

• Applicants are eligible to apply for an Aboriginal SEWB scholarship if they meet all the following criteria:
• Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• Hold Australian citizenship or permanent residency
• Are living in Victoria
• Are currently employed by an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) or a mainstream health organisation in an Aboriginal SEWB (social and emotional well-being) team or role OR
• If not currently employed by an ACCO or mainstream organisation in an Aboriginal SEWB role, intends to work in a Victorian Aboriginal SEWB team or role. This includes any role across the spectrum of mental health and broader wellbeing, including connection to Land or Country, Culture, Spirituality, Ancestry, Family and Community.
• Are studying an approved course, have been accepted into an approved course or are in the process of applying

Program components

Orientation and pre-scholarship support: Provided by the BDDC and the relevant tertiary providers.

Education: Registered tertiary providers deliver relevant qualification.

Course placement: placements where possible, preferably in an Aboriginal SEWB organisation

Employment: The BDDC can facilitate connections with prospective VACCHO members across Victoria.

Mentorship and Peer support: Students will have access to culturally safe supports offered by the universities and additional cultural support provided by the Cen BDDC upon request

Following successful completion of your course, scholarship recipients may be offered ongoing employment or may consider pursuing higher qualifications through the Program. Individuals who have completed relevant undergraduate studies will be eligible for a selection of postgraduate scholarships.

What courses are available?

The Aboriginal SEWB Scholarship Program, will be delivered in partnership with RMIT, Deakin and La Trobe Universities.

The program qualifications have been identified as disciplines that will support the state-wide expansion of Aboriginal SEWB teams and address identified workforce gaps in Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing.

Both clinical and therapeutic courses have been identified to ensure that SEWB teams are able to respond to the specific social and emotional wellbeing needs of Communities. Registered practitioners are also greatly under-represented in the workforce and Aboriginal SEWB teams.

There is also an opportunity for individuals with prior qualifications to be upskilled in higher qualifications where large shortages exist in the sector. Scholarship are available for the following qualifications:

Note: if you are interested in a course not on this list however links to SEWB please reach out to the Balit Durn Durn Centre to discuss.

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Health Sciences (Psychological Science)*
• Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Psychological Science*
• Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Health Sciences*
• Bachelor of Cybersecurity/Bachelor of Psychological Science*
• Bachelor of Health Sciences
• Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Psychological Science
• Bachelor of Psychological Science
• Bachelor of Psychological Science with Honours
• Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
• Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
• Diploma of Rural Health
• Graduate Certificate in Mental Health
• Master of Clinical Family Therapy
• Master of Clinical Psychology
• Master of Mental Health
• Master of Mental Health Nursing
• Master of Professional Psychology
• Master of Social Work
• Graduate Certificate in Family Therapy
• Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Counselling
• Master of Art Therapy
• Master of Rehabilitation Counselling and Mental Health

Scholarship Application Process

How to apply

Here are the steps you need to take to apply for the scholarship program:

Step 1. Ensure you met the eligibility criteria for the course you wish to study and the eligibility criteria for the scholarship program (detailed above)

Step 2. Go to the Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Scholarship application page of the university where you are/will be studying.

Step 3. Provide a written response to the application questions

Step 4. Seek a written support letter from your employer or a support letter from an Indigenous Community member (OPTIONAL)

Step 5. Attach all supporting documentation endorsing your application

Selection process

Once applications close, all applications will be reviewed based on eligibility and merit criteria (described below) by Aboriginal representatives from the Balit Durn Durn Centre, the respective University and the Department of Health.

To ensure that applicants strengths are recognised, it is important that the selection process is not only based on an applicant’s written responses. Short-listed applicants will be invited to have a yarn in a culturally safe and comfortable environment. This is an opportunity for the applicant to discuss their passion for Aboriginal SEWB and their future career pathways that will inform the final decision to award a scholarship.

Key dates

RMIT
Applications currently open. Applications close 11:59pm Monday 27 January 2025.

DEAKIN
Applications for Trimester/Semester 1 2025 are currently open.
Bachelor Applications for Trimester/Semester 1 2025 close 5pm Frist 31 January 2025.
Honours and Postgraduate Applications for Trimester/Semester 1 2025 close 5pm Wednesday 12 February 2025.

LA TROBE
Applications currently open. Applications close 11:59pm Monday 27 January 2025.

Key Assessment Criteria

The following criteria will be considered in the assessment of your application:

• If the applicant is employed in an Aboriginal SEWB role or employed by an ACCO
• If the applicant can demonstrate a clear commitment to Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing
• If the applicant is living in rural/regional/remote Victoria.
• If the applicant is currently enrolled in a course that is available through the Scholarship program.

Applicants applying for a postgraduate degree must meet the eligibility criteria for the chosen course.

Note: employers will be encouraged to manage employment commitments throughout the program and following successful completion of the scholarship program to support workforce retention and sustainability.