There are a number of funding options available to you to help you cover the costs of a rural placement.

Understanding the Modified Monash Model (MMM)

Most funding specifies the placement must take place in an MMM Category 3 location or above. The Modified Monash Model classifies areas according to geographical remoteness and town size.

• Check the MMM category of a specific location here.
• Important Tip: When checking eligibility using the Health Workforce Locator, please ensure you determine eligibility by using the exact street address of the pharmacy, not just the suburb or postcode, as zoning can change within a suburb.

Primary Funding Grants

Rural Pharmacy Student Placement Allowance Program (RPSPA)

Eligible students can apply for funding to support transport and accommodation costs to attend their placement. Further information on booking travel and accommodation using this funding is in Chapter 23.

Eligibility:

• Be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident (check definition).
• Be enrolled as a full-time student in an undergraduate pharmacy degree or as part of a graduate entry course (a course that leads directly to registration as a pharmacist).
• Placements must be in an MMM3 to MMM7 location.
• You must agree to participate in longitudinal studies on the recruitment of rural pharmacists to rural practice.

Important Program Allowances to Note:

• Funding is Not Guaranteed: Allowances are limited based on available funds. Lodging an application and meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee that you will receive payment of the allowance.
• Multiple Allowances: Students may apply for more than one RPSPA allowance in a given academic year.
• Compatibility: Holders of Rural Pharmacy Scholarships and holders of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Scholarships are still eligible to apply for a RPSPA.
• The ‘Home Town’ Placement: During your degree, you may apply for funding to undertake one placement in or close to your ‘home’ town (the address you used on admission to your course), provided that your ‘home’ town is located in an MM Category 3 to 7 location. Placements in the town where your own university campus is based are not eligible.

How to Apply:

1. Read the RPSPA Program Rules (PDF, 236KB).
2. Complete a Pre-Placement Rural Funding Application Form prior to travel.
3. Submit a travel diary and a brief report detailing the activities undertaken once the placement is complete.

SQRH Bursary

In addition to all other support, Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH) offers a limited number of bursaries. Students completing an 8-week placement will be awarded $800 to help with costs.

Eligibility:

• Be doing an extended rural clinical placement (8+ weeks).
• The placement must be in a rural location (MMM3 to MMM7) within the SQRH region.
• ⚠️ Note: Toowoomba City is classified as MMM2 and is not an eligible location.

Internal UQ Funding

• Financial Hardship Assistance: UQ provides financial hardship assistance to eligible students.
• Student Union Bursaries: The UQ Student Union provides placement bursaries for students experiencing financial hardship as a result of their Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) placement.
• WIL Placement Financial Hardship Grant: Available for students experiencing genuine financial hardship resulting from WIL placement participation (who may forfeit the opportunity without funding). Open to international and domestic students, for both rural and metro placements. Check eligibility criteria here.

External Scholarships and Bursaries

Many external organisations provide financial support via bursaries and competitively awarded scholarships:

• CRANAplus: The peak professional body for the remote and isolated health workforce offers awards, scholarships and grants.
• HWQ Going Rural North: Offers bursaries of $200 per week toward travel and accommodation for placements in Far North QLD (excluding hospitals). Note: This is only for students who have remaining out-of-pocket expenses after accessing RPSPA funding. More Info.
• NAFEA: The National Association of Field Experience Administrators offers a rural placement scholarship program.
• ACEN: The Australian Collaborative Education Network offers student work-integrated learning scholarships. You can read Lisa’s story of how an ACEN scholarship helped her undertake a placement in Mt Isa. More Info.
• Scholarship Summaries: Both the National Rural Health Student Network and Rural Health Pro provide excellent summaries of rural placement scholarships available across Australia.

Rural Networks and Study Support

• Join TROHPIQ: Towards Rural and Outback Health Professionals in Queensland (TROHPIQ) is Queensland’s student-run rural health club dedicated to helping medical, nursing, and allied health students experience the unique opportunities found outside Brisbane.
• NRHSN Resources: The National Rural Health Student Network provides helpful resources related to rural health placements and acts as a voice for rural health students.
• Country Universities Centre (CUC): Register with CUC to access secure spaces to focus on your studies while on rural placement. They offer high-speed internet, printing/copying, desktop computers, video conferencing, and study spaces. Centres are located in Roma, St George and Dirranbandi, and Goondiwindi, as well as other states.
• Health Workforce Queensland: Health Workforce Queensland supports students via initiatives that provide opportunities to undertake activities and experience the possibilities of a rural career.