The Sign-on Bonus is a payment that new graduate nurses and midwives may be eligible to receive when they commence their careers employed in a transition-to-practice program (graduate program) in a Victorian public health service. The bonus payment will help ensure those who are already deep in their studies are encouraged to take up careers in Victoria’s public health system.
The Sign-on Bonus is valued at $5,000 dollars. It will be paid in two instalments of $2,500 each:
- The first $2,500 payment will be made after nurses and midwives commence their graduate program.
- The second payment of $2,500 will be made following completion of two years’ work in a Victorian public health service including the graduate year.
Who is eligible?
The Sign-on Bonus is only available to nurses and midwives who graduate between 2022 to 2024 and have met the following criteria.
For the first payment you must:
- be currently registered as a nurse or midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
- have graduated from an eligible Australian undergraduate nursing or midwifery course in 2022, 2023 or 2024
- commenced in a nursing or midwifery graduate program in the same calendar year of course completion or the calendar year immediately following course completion and have commenced employment no later than 2025 mid-year intakes.
For the second payment you must:
- have been eligible to receive the first payment
- have completed a minimum of two full years of continuous employment within a Victorian public health service/s from the commencement date of the graduate program at a minimum of 0.8 FTE or pro rata equivalent.
Who is not eligible for the Sign-on Bonus?
- Those who completed their nursing/midwifery course overseas
- Temporary residents
- New Zealand permanent or temporary residents
- Those who graduated in a year other than 2022, 2023 or 2024
- Those who have previously received a Sign-on Bonus as part of this Nursing and Midwifery Graduates Sign-on Bonus initiative.
When and how will I receive the Sign-on Bonus?
- Western Health is submitting a list of our eligible graduates.
- You will receive an invitation via your work email from ‘Nursing sign-on bonus program (DJPR)’ which has an @ecodev.vic.gov.au domain. This is an email address of the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, a program administrator for the Sign-on Bonus. The email will invite you to login to a Sign-on Bonus Portal. In the portal, you will be asked to confirm your details and sign a grant agreement to claim your payment.
- There will be a four-week window to sign a grant agreement and submit your claim once claims open.
- You will receive the first instalment of the Bonus after you commence your graduate program. In 2023, the timing is in June/July and September. The September round will capture mid-year intake graduates and any graduates who missed the first round.
- Once you have submitted your claim, it will be processed within 8 business days. Depending on your bank, your grant payment may take up to ten business days to reach your nominated account.
- The Sign-on Bonus is paid separately from your salary.
- For the second instalment, after a minimum two years of consecutive employment at a Victorian public health service, you will be sent a link to a claim form for completion to receive the second payment.
Please click on this link to read the FAQs from the Department of Health.