Nursing or midwifery undergraduate students to study for free under $270m plan

More than 10,000 students will have the cost of their nursing or midwifery undergraduate studies paid for under a new $270 million plan.

In an attempt to ease pressure on the state's embattled health system, the Victorian government will recruit and train more than 17,000 nurses and midwives.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said all new domestic students enrolling in an entry nursing or midwifery course in 2023 and 2024 will receive a scholarship to cover course costs.

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Under the five-year program, students will receive $9,000 while they study and the remaining $7,500 if they work in Victorian public health services for two years.

"If you're in Year 12 and you've been thinking about studying nursing or midwifery – go for it. We've got your HECS fees covered," Andrews said.

"It has never been a better time to become a nurse.

"This is a significant step - it's an important and unprecedented investment."

A $10,000 scholarship will also be provided to postgraduate nurses to complete studies in specialist areas, including intensive care, emergency, paediatrics and cancer care.

Andrews said the investment would help ease the "significant pressure" on the health system.

"Every health system in the country is under enormous pressure due to the pandemic," he said.

"The best thing we can do to support our hardworking staff is give them more support on the ground – that's why this package will train and hire more nurses than ever before."