Study support for secondary teachers

THE state government will make studying to become a teacher in secondary schools in Victoria free, with scholarships covering the cost of degrees to help boost the school workforce and support hardworking teachers.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins announced the scholarships, as part of a $229.8 million package to grow the school workforce.

The scholarships will be available to all students who enrol in secondary school teaching degrees in 2024 and 2025, with final payments if they then work in Victorian government schools for two years after they graduate – supporting around 4000 future teachers each year.

Student services and outreach officer Rebecca Prowd of Country Universities Centre Bass Coast, based in Wonthaggi confirmed that this announcement is a great incentive to get regional students into university, and encourages those living in regional Victoria to pursue a new career path.

CUC Bass Coast welcomes students in Bass Coast, South Gippsland and surrounds to register their course each semester and use the local facilities for their studies. 

“Our centre welcomes full time and part time students, as well as short-term or visiting students studying any university course – all we ask is they register their enrolment,” said Rebecca. 

Via registering enrolment students will have daily access to the terminal room that is inclusive of dual screen monitors and free Wi-Fi, as well as the opportunity to schedule a private room for remote presentations or meetings. 

“We provide assistance and guidance to the students throughout their studies, our service gives remote learners access to a university environment,” Rebecca said.

During the pandemic, too many students experienced isolation during their 
studies and would therefore not favour the thought of remote online learning; however, with access to CUC and financial support for secondary education, students are more likely to take up the opportunity to complete their Masters of Secondary Teaching or begin their Bachelor of Secondary Education. 

The total scholarship for students who complete their studies and then choose to work in government secondary schools will match the HELP fees charged by the Commonwealth Government for Commonwealth Supported Places – $18,000 for a four-year undergraduate program or $9,000 for two years of postgraduate study.

A further $27 million will continue and expand the Targeted Financial Incentives Program – providing incentives of up to $50,000 to teachers from Victoria, interstate and overseas to take up rural, remote, and otherwise hard-to-staff positions in government schools.

In addition, $95.7 million will expand the successful Australian-first Career Start initiative to support and retain teachers – developing graduate teachers in government schools with extra preparation time, mentoring and other professional support to help them flourish in their first year of teaching. 

An investment of almost $13.9 million will support a trial of employment-based degrees for undergraduates. Set to start in 2025, the program will allow people to study and qualify as a teacher while undertaking paid work at a school, while also providing a pathway for education support staff to gain teaching qualifications.

Rebecca said the incentive for employment-based placement breaks down the huge financial barrier for those working and required to take time off for placement. 

“Work placement generally requires blocks of unpaid work, so having the opportunity to undergo employment-based degrees is more of an incentive to develop further skill and complete a degree in education.” 

The package supports five key priority areas agreed by all Australian jurisdictions, in recognition of national school workforce shortages, to tackle workforce pressures: attraction, recruitment and distribution, supporting early-career teachers, retention, and career pathways and flexibility.

CUC Centre Manager Andrea Evans-McCall said teaching is a degree that can be studied online and with our services available in Bass Coast, remote learning is made easier.