QLD services invited to apply for their share of $2.4m in new grants to upskill workforce

More than $2.4 million in new grants for the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector have been made available, in an effort by the Queensland Government to further upskill workers and respond to demand.

Eligible services are able to apply for grants of up to $30,000 to meet the national legislative requirements for an early childhood teacher (ECT), Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace said. 

Educators who have been working toward gaining an approved ECT qualification will need to have completed their studies by the end of 2021 to be recognised as an ECT, Ms Grace said, acknowledging the demand for ECTs would continue to grow along with the sector. 

“These grants will support Queensland’s early childhood sector as it works to increase the number of appropriately qualified teachers,” Ms Grace said, explaining that the grants will be used to help services employ relief staff when educators are on student placement or study leave, contribute to travel and accommodation costs, and purchase equipment or resources to support educators while they are studying.

Applications for the grant will close shortly, on Friday 28 February 2020, with the Queensland Government running information sessions throughout the remainder of February to provide an overview of the funding criteria and the application process.

More information, including eligibility criteria, can be found here.