Scholarship Information

Amount 

The Trust is offering scholarships to cover or assist with course fees for up to 12 months, varying in value from $2,500 to $10,000.  

Applications 

Online applications can be made using the form which will be available on the Albert Coates Memorial Trust website (www.albertcoates.com.au) from Monday, 6 July 2026. The closing date for applications is COB Monday, 28 September 2026. 

Eligibility 

The scholarships are available for registered nurses in the Gippsland Department of Health region who intend to undertake courses commencing in 2027 in one of the following categories:

1. A rural and isolated practice course (RIPRN). This course allows the RN to apply for endorsement for scheduled medicines (rural and isolated practice) as described by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.  
2. Nurse Practitioner. An approved program of study to become a nurse practitioner in the rural environment. 
3. Post-graduate studies in emergency OR critical care. 

Applicants must: 

1. be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and  
2. hold a nursing degree or equivalent qualification, and  
3. have current registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and 
4. hold current employment with any Victorian Public Health Service in the Gippsland Dept. of Health region. 

Applicants must be supported by their employing Gippsland Dept. of Health region health service or bush nursing service.  

Preference would be given to applicants who are descendants or relatives of ex-servicemen/women however, the Trust is flexible with this criterion to ensure the recruitment of quality applicants. 

Application criteria

Before applying for the scholarships, applicants should seek endorsement from their sponsoring health service. Scholarships are only provided for study undertaken in 2027. 

Each applicant and their sponsoring health service should complete the Sir Albert Coates 2027 Rural Nursing Scholarships Application Form (attached) and email the application by the due date. Applicants are also required to include a copy of their Curriculum Vitae and any supporting evidence of their relationship to current or ex-servicemen/women.  

Applications should be completed online including attached CV and other documents. You will see that the online application has two components with your Health Service Supervisor also receiving your application to sign off their approval for your application. 

Short-listed applicants will be asked to participate in an online interview which will take place in October/November 2026. All decisions of the sub-committee are final, and no correspondence will be entered into. 

Once approved, scholarship recipients will need to provide evidence of their offer of a place in their selected course, after which the funds for course fees will be transferred to the employing health service.  

Scholarship Terms and Conditions

Once approved, scholarship recipients will need to provide evidence of their offer of a place in their selected course, after which the funds for the course will be transferred to the applicant VIA the sponsoring health service. 

Scholarship recipients will be expected to provide written reports to their sponsoring health service and to the Coates Trust, including upon completing your course.  

The Trust encourages scholarship recipients to promote the work of the Trust whenever it is appropriate to do so. Recipients of the scholarships may be required to give a presentation about their experiences at a Trust occasion.  

For further information contact:

Enquiries concerning the eligibility of nursing studies being undertaken can be forwarded to Paul Greenhalgh, CEO, South Gippsland Hospital by email on:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

If you experience any problems with the online application form process, or have other questions please email the Coates Trust Honorary Secretary, Roger Trudgeon at:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.