THE HON JASON CLARE MP
MINISTER FOR EDUCATION

 THE HON STEPHEN JONES MP
ASSISTANT TREASURER
MINISTER FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES
MEMBER FOR WHITLAM

ALISON BYRNES MP
MEMBER FOR CUNNINGHAM

Local students commencing teaching degrees in 2025 can now apply for scholarships worth up to $40,000 which are designed to encourage more people to become teachers in areas such as the Illawarra and Southern Highlands.

The Albanese Government is delivering on its election promise to deliver the $160 million Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships Program.

In designing the scholarships, the Government consulted with 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 scholarships are targeted at high-achieving school leavers, mid-career professionals, First Nations peoples, people with disability, people from whom English is an additional language or dialect and individuals from rural, regional and remote locations or from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Local students who are considering studying to become a teacher should consider registering.

Scholarships of $40,000 each will be available for undergraduate teaching students over four years and $20,000 for postgraduate students over two years.

To encourage more teachers to live and work in remote Australia including in New South Wales, students completing their final year professional experience placements in these communities may receive an additional top-up payment of $2,000.

This also builds on the Government’s program to cut HECS-HELP debt for teachers in very remote areas.

The Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships Program forms part of the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan.

More information on the Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships Program, including information on the application process, is at: education.gov.au/teaching-scholarships

Applications close on Monday 13 January 2025 at 5pm AEDT.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“Teachers have one of the most important jobs in the world and we need more of them.

“I want more young people to leap out of high school and want to become a teacher, rather than a lawyer or a banker.

“And I want more people in the middle of their careers to consider becoming teachers. That’s what these scholarships are all about.

“This is one part of our plan to tackle the teacher workforce shortage and builds on our reforms to teacher training and the Commonwealth Prac Payment for teaching students.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Whitlam Stephen Jones:

“We need more teachers in the Illawarra and Southern Highlands, and the Albanese Government is committed to encouraging more people to study to become a teacher to boost our education workforce.

“Teachers serve a vital role in our community, and I encourage local students to register for one of these Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes:

“For students just leaving school, just leaving home, and just getting started – these scholarships will make a world of difference

“Supporting students has been a priority for the Albanese Labor Government, as we understand the importance of investing in our future workforce.

“Whether its through Fee-Free TAFE, paid prac placements or Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships, we will continue supporting our students so they can get ahead and stay ahead.”