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Tailored scholarships on offer to unpack the potential of Queensland’s educators
Freya Lucas
Apr 19, 2024
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The Queensland Government has released new tailored scholarships and subsidies for early childhood professionals to upgrade their qualifications, benefit from enhanced career pathways and experience greater work satisfaction as part of the Queensland Early Childhood Workforce Strategy.
The Government anticipates that the $33 million investment will help to ‘unlock the potential’ of more than 2,300 early childhood educators and build the early childhood education and care (ECEC) workforce.Components of the $33 million investment are:
- $29 million in the first round of the Qualifications Pathways Program (QPP)
- up to $2 million to pilot a Practicum Placement Scheme (PPS) in 2024
- wrap around coaching and mentoring for educators seeking to upgrade qualifications for Certificate III, Diploma, Bachelor and Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood through QPP
- $2.3 million to fund two planning days in 2024 for every eligible Long Day Care service delivering a kindergarten program.
To carry out its investment the Government will partner with nine organisations to deliver scholarships to help fund tuition fees for those studying a university qualification, provide support for practicums or to purchase equipment to help them finish their studies.
Educator Nara is currently completing her Bachelor of Early Childhood while working in the ECEC sector, and says the subsidies will relieve financial pressures, and will allow her to continue working while studying without needing to bank up her leave to cover placements.
“I am very passionate about what I do and know early childhood is where I want to be. These incentives will help people like myself to further their career opportunities,” she said.
As well as the 2,000 educators supported through the QPP, the new funding will support up to 350 eligible early childhood educators to complete their teacher qualification, with five ECEC organisations now approved to administer the PPS pilot.
Educators are encouraged to speak with their service around these exciting opportunities.For more information on workforce initiatives visit the training and capability building page.
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