Game changer: Up to $40,000 teaching scholarships now available
In a bid to incentivize prospective educators, the Australian Government has unveiled a noteworthy scholarship initiative for those embarking on teaching degrees in 2024.
Undergraduate teaching students will be eligible for scholarships worth $40,000 each over four years and postgraduate students will be eligible for $20,000 scholarships over two years.
A total of 5,000 scholarships will be offered to prospective teaching students enrolled in programs starting in 2024. These scholarships are specifically designed for outstanding high school graduates, individuals seeking a career transition to teaching, First Nations peoples, those with disabilities, individuals for whom English is an additional language, as well as individuals residing in rural, regional, or remote areas or from low socio-economic backgrounds.
University of Newcastle’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for the College of Human & Social Futures, Professor John Fischetti is proud to partner with the Department of Education and increase the number of teachers across New South Wales.
“Teaching is the most dynamic profession in the world. These scholarships will open up the opportunity to come to education for many Australians, rewarding excellence and a shared commitment to serve diverse learners.”
“We are so excited that the Government has put forward these scholarships to support our goal of providing the next generation of great teachers for all of Australia’s children. We are proud to partner with the Department of Education to increase the supply of teachers to serve diverse learners across New South Wales.”
The Scholarships were designed with the help of school principals and teachers, who spoke about the scholarships they received and how they often included a requirement to teach for a period of time. Based on this feedback, the scholarships will include a ‘commitment to teach’ requirement, which means recipients must be willing to commit to teach for four years (undergraduate) and two years (postgraduate) in government-run schools or early learning settings.
The Australian Government’s Minister for Education The Hon. Jason Clare MP said that this government initiative will help change the lives of Schools that need it most.
“This is one part of our plan to tackle the teacher workforce shortage and builds on our reforms to teacher training, extra uni places for teaching and the Be that teacher campaign to elevate the profession.”
“Tying scholarships to a commitment to teach is an old school idea that will help tackle today’s teacher workforce challenges.”
Mr Tim McCallum, NSW Department Education Executive Director School Performance, is excited about the impact that this initiative will have on aspiring Teachers and our students.
“The Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships offer aspiring teachers an exciting, supported avenue to enter and commit to the most rewarding of professions, teaching”
“Teaching is a vocation and career built on the strong, spirited moral purpose of enhancing student learning and wellbeing outcomes”.
“These Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships support the importance of maximising every student’s potential to excel, enriching their future prosperity through a vibrant, talented workforce nationwide”.
In a bid to promote more teachers to live and work in remote Australia, students finishing their final-year of work placements in those communities may be eligible for an additional top-up payment of $2,000.
This initiative extends the government's efforts to reduce HECS-HELP debt for educators in highly remote areas.
Those considering a career in teaching can check their eligibility and express their interest by visiting here.
Applications for the Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships close on 14 January 2024.
For those who have already completed an undergraduate degree and are interested in teaching, the University of Newcastle offer a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary) that can be completed in 1 year.
For more information on the University of Newcastle’s Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary) please click here.
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