Crohn’s & Colitis Australia Nurse Practitioner Scholarship 2026

Description

The Crohn’s & Colitis Australia Nurse Practitioner Scholarship is created to address the CCA strategic priority of building inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research capacity in Australia whilst we search for a cause or cure for IBD.

The award is designed for candidates who are undertaking an accredited master’s degree leading to registration as a Nurse Practitioner.  CCA recognises that  nurses enrolled in such a course may be undertaking a specific research project or may be developing research skills through clinical innovations or practice improvement projects.

CCA anticipates the benefits of Nurse Practitioner involvement in research to be:

• Improved patient care:  Research findings can lead to more effective and efficient healthcare delivery.
• Advancement of the NP role: Research can support the definition and strengthening of the NP role and scope of practice.
• Healthcare system improvement:  Research can inform policy decisions and contribute to a more efficient and equitable healthcare system.
• Professional development:  Participating in research can enhance NPs' knowledge, skills, and leadership abilities.

Benefits

The Scholarship makes a provision of $20,000 per annum for up to (1) year full-time or equivalent part-time with funding commencing in 2026.

The scholarship is awarded to an individual to support completing their Nurse Practitioner program, attending education and conferences, and taking leave from clinical responsibilities for study purposes in the Nurse Practitioner program. 

Funding will be provided in two payments of $10,000 or equivalent part-time. The First payment will be awarded upon acceptance of enrolment confirmation. The second payment will be provided upon receipt of evidence of completion of 50% of the course.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant must:

• Be an Australian citizen or hold permanent Australian resident status; and
• Hold current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA)
• Be undertaking an accredited master’s degree leading to registration as a Nurse Practitioner in the field of inflammatory bowel disease
• Not hold a concurrent grant of equivalent or greater value for the course

Selection Criteria

Preference will be given to proposals that address any of the Top 17 IBD Research Priorities identified by consumers and clinicians in CCA’s 2022 IBD Research Priorities Report :

Research into cause or cure of IBD is not excluded but only outstanding projects in areas of unmet need will be considered. The Scientific, Medical and Quality of Care (SMQOC) Advisory Committee reserves the right to evaluate each application on a case-by-case basis. The decision of the CCA board is final.