HELP debt cut for early childhood teachers who work in very remote Australia

Freya Lucas

Jan 20, 2023

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Teachers, including early childhood teachers, who have completed four years working in very remote Australia can apply from today to receive a cut to their HELP debt, Federal Education Minister Jason Clare announced yesterday.

The average debt reduction for eligible teachers is expected to be around $35,000. To be eligible, teachers must complete four years of full-time teaching in a very remote location at a primary or secondary school, centre-based day care service, or preschool.

Very remote areas that qualify for this program are determined using the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Remoteness Structure, with the measure expected to help up to 2,000 teachers this year, and 500 each year after that.

Eligible teachers will have their HELP debt cut by either the amount of debt incurred for their initial teacher education qualification (up to a maximum of five years of tuition costs) or the amount of outstanding HELP debt at the commencement of their teaching position in an eligible location, whichever amount is less.

The program will initially be open to teachers who have been teaching in an eligible location since 2019, with the number of eligible teachers increasing as they reach the four-year requirement.

This means that teachers already teaching in a very remote location could already be eligible for a HELP debt reduction, or on the path to becoming eligible and should consider continuing working to support their local school community and students.

More information about the program and how to apply is available here. Image source; NSW Farmers Association.

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