Victorian Rural Medical Scholarship (VRMS) Scheme 2015 Guidelines The Victorian Rural Medical Scholarship (VRMS) Scheme supports career pathways to rural medical practice, and assists rural and regional health services to attract, employ and retain medical graduates. The VRMS scheme supports medical students with a commitment to working in rural and regional Victoria, with living and tertiary expenses. The VRMS scheme is administered by the Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria (VRMS) on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). 2015 scholarships In 2015, 30 scholarships valued at $20,000 each are available to be awarded to final year medical students in Victoria. Scholarship recipients are required to commit to a two year return of service in rural or regional Victoria following graduation (intern and postgraduate year two year). How to apply for a VRMS scholarship in 2015 To apply for a VRMS scholarship in 2015, you must: Review VRMS scheme guidelines for 2015 and ensure that you meet all eligibility criteria; Provide your top preference in the intern computer match to a rural and /or regional health services or Rural Community Intern Training (RCIT) program; Complete a VRMS 2014 application form, providing written responses to each of the selection criteria, and submit to DHHS by close of business Friday 10 July. Application forms are available from the Department of Health and Human Services or PMCV websites. In 2016, and regional intern positions will be available across the following programs and sites: Rural Community Intern Training (RCIT) programs in 2016 Region Program Barwon West South West Community Intern program Gippsland East Gippsland Community Based Intern program Grampians Grampians Rural Community Intern Program Hume Murray to Mountains Loddon Mallee Echuca Intern Network Further information regarding RCIT programs in Victoria is available from the DHHS website Rural and regional health services offering internships in 2016 Region Health Service Barwon South West Barwon Health South West Healthcare Gippsland Bairnsdale Regional Health Service Latrobe Regional Health (GRIT) Grampians Ballarat Health Services Hume Albury Wodonga Health Goulburn Valley Health Northeast Health Wangaratta Loddon Mallee Bendigo Health Care Group Midura Base Hospital Eligibility To be eligible for a VRMS scholarship in 2015, applicants must:
Payment of VRMS scholarships VRMS Scholarships are paid to recipients by the PMCV. Scholarships are paid as a lump sum unless otherwise agreed to by the recipient and the PMCV. If payment is made in instalments, the final payment cannot be received later than 31 December 2015. Important points The total number of VRMS scholarships available in 2015 is 30 VRMS scholarships are awarded to final year medical students and are paid during the final year of study VRMS scholarship recipients are required to enter into a Scholarship Agreement with the PMCV. The Scholarship Agreement includes a return of service obligation, in which the recipients commits to working in rural or regional Victoria for the first two years following graduation (intern and postgraduate year two). Important dates Date VRMS applications open Friday 26 June 2015 VRMS applications close Friday 10 July 2015 VRMS offers sent (via email) Friday 17 July 2015 Last day to accept VRMS offers Friday 24 July 2015 Further VRMS offers sent (if required) TBA Last day to accept further VRMS offers (if required) TBA Payment of VRMS scholarships commence September to December 2015 Where to get more information VRMS scheme – Scholarship Agreement (Terms and Conditions) Contacts For more information or to access any of the documents referenced in guidelines, please contact DHHS or the PMCV as detailed below. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Liana Thomas Policy Advisor (03) 9096 0590 Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria (PMCV) Carol Jordon Chief Executive Officer (03) 9670 1077