What is the OTAC Scholarship?
The OTAC Scholarship supports general practitioners and nurse practitioners in NSW to gain accreditation for prescribing opioid pharmacotherapy in the treatment of opioid dependence. It also recognises and encourages ongoing professional development in opioid dependence treatment and aims to improve access to opioid dependence treatment services.
The Scholarship strives in a small way, to provide additional resourcing for medical professionals working in regional, remote and metropolitan areas of NSW; while all metropolitan applicants are welcome to apply, their applications will be individually assessed, preference is given to regional and rural applicants.
What is the value of the OTAC Scholarship?
Applications for the 2026 OTAC Scholarship will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Up to 5 scholarships will be offered in 2026. Successful applicants can receive up to $2,000, paid in two instalments:
- An initial payment of $750 after completing the OTAC educational program and clinical placement.
- A second payment of $1,250 following accreditation and after prescribing opioid pharmacotherapy to their first patient, within 12 months of accreditation.
Who Can Apply?
General practitioners or nurse practitioners who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply.
- Applicants must be a general practitioner or nurse practitioner, currently working in general practice or private settings in New South Wales, including Aboriginal Medical Services or other non-government community-based clinics.
- Applicants must NOT be working substantively in the public setting, such as Local Health Districts or Specialty Networks. If across multiple clinics or services, applicants must allocate most of their hours in a private practice or general practice setting.
- Applicants must be a member of a relevant professional college or organisation. For instance:
- General practitioners may be a member of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), and/or The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).
- Nurse practitioners may be a member of Drug and Alcohol Nurses of Australasia (DANA) and/or a member of Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP). In addition, a nurse practitioner must be within scope to prescribe opioid pharmacotherapies for the treatment of opioid dependence within their work role.
- Applicants must be an unaccredited prescriber. This means either an applicant does not currently hold accreditation to prescribe opioid pharmacotherapies from the NSW Ministry of Health, Opioid Pharmacotherapy Subcommittee, or have not previously held accreditation in NSW.
- Applicants must have a relevant AHPRA Registration that has not been cancelled, disqualified, or prohibited (either currently or previously), or contain any conditions, undertakings, or reprimands (either currently or previously) that would prevent completion of accreditation.
- Applicants must be interested in the NSW Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) and want to support the safe prescribing of opioid pharmacotherapies in their own practice/clinical setting.
Scholarships will be allocated to general practitioners and/or nurse practitioners who currently work in regional, rural and metropolitan areas in NSW. General practitioners and nurse practitioners who work in metropolitan areas of NSW can apply, however the priority is to award regional, rural and outer metro applicants.
The definition of regional and rural NSW and metropolitan NSW areas is described in section Rural, Regional and Metropolitan Classifications.
When and how to apply?
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Up to 5 scholarships will be offered in 2026.
All applicants will receive an email notification regarding the outcome of their application, approximately one week after the judging process.
To apply for an OTAC Scholarship, please complete the online form and upload your APHRA registration and 2-page curriculum vitae (CV). The application form will ask the following questions:
- Tell us about your recent experience in providing alcohol and other drug services and treatment to assist people who use drugs? (100 words or less)
- Have you prescribed opioid pharmacotherapies (i.e., methadone or buprenorphine) for the treatment of opioid dependence in the last six months?
- How many opioid dependent clients do you currently provide treatment for?
- Describe the potential need for prescribing opioid pharmacotherapies for treating opioid dependence at your workplace(s). (100 words or less)
- How many opioid dependant clients do you expect to treat in the future? (i.e., What is the potential need for future opioid pharmacotherapies in your workplace?)
- If you were to obtain accreditation as a prescriber of opioid pharmacotherapies within the next year, do you intend to prescribe opioid pharmacotherapies in your current workplace?
- Why are you interested in completing the Opioid Treatment Accreditation Course (OTAC) and becoming an accredited opioid prescriber in NSW? (100 words or less)
This information supports the OTAC Scholarship Selection Committee to consider the best candidates based on current and future caseloads (needs basis) should more than three suitable candidate applications be received. It also helps us understand your commitment to prescribing OAT and your future role in improving access to OAT treatment in NSW.
How are applications assessed?
The OTAC Scholarships Selection Committee reviews and judges all applications. The Committee may gather additional information if its members feel it is necessary to reach a final decision.
When will scholarship payments be made?
The Scholarship will be paid in instalments as the successful applicant completes their course, a clinical placement for accreditation, and commences prescribing opioid pharmacotherapies to patients in their practice.
- An initial payment of $750.00 paid after completion of the OTAC educational program and completion of a clinical placement.
- A second payment of $1,250.00 paid following accreditation and once the applicant prescribes opioid pharmacotherapy to their first patient, within 12 months of receiving accreditation.
Rural, Regional and Metropolitan Classifications
The NSW Local Health District area classifications will be used to determine rural or regional and metropolitan applications. Rural and regional applicants must work in any regional, rural, or outer metropolitan area in NSW.
- NSW Regional and Rural Areas: Central Coast, Far West, Hunter New England, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Mid North Coast, Murrumbidgee, Northern NSW, Southern NSW, Western NSW. In addition, a regional or rural area will also encompass the NSW portion of the Albury-Wodonga Health Service.
- NSW Metropolitan Areas: Nepean Blue Mountains, Northern Sydney, Sydney, South Eastern Sydney, South Western Sydney, and Western Sydney.
For more information on these geographic boundaries, please visit the NSW Health website.
What are the terms and conditions of the OTAC Scholarship?
Download the 2026 OTAC Scholarship Terms & Conditions.
Have a question about the OTAC Scholarship?
Email: otep.info@sydney.edu.au
Phone: 02 9515 6419 during regular business hours on Monday – Thursday.