Paid practicum days and scholarships on offer for early childhood educators in QLD

The Queensland government has increased its support to the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, delivering funding for paid practicum days, and scholarships, and increasing the accessibility of high-quality, face-to-face ECEC training in Northwest Queensland. 

“The complementary list of workforce programs that we’re seeing come through is a testament to our collective voice – the desperation that all early childhood services have felt, in finding a suitably qualified workforce should be realised in the roll-out of these initiatives,” Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) Queensland President Majella Fitzsimmons said. 

“These are the attraction and retention programs we’ve been advocating for, and we’re hopeful about the outcome.”  

Northwest Queensland Certificate III and Diploma courses

College for Australian Early Childhood Educators (CAECE), a Queensland owned and operated Registered Training Organisation (RTO) is expanding the delivery of its ECEC Certificate III and Diploma qualifications, in a new model to support the rural and remote workforce piloted by the Department of Small Business and Training.

CAECE will provide greater face-to-face training in Charters Towers Regional Council, Cloncurry Shire, Flinders Shire, McKinlay Shire, Mount Isa Shire and Richmond Shire.   

“We will provide intensive support to help regional and remote students succeed in their qualifications. The pilot will operate from July 2024 to March 2025 with a limited 60 places,” CAECE Training Operations Manager Cris Romao Frobisher said. 

Participants will be provided with a laptop that includes Wi-Fi and camera facilities to support completion and online course elements. As a reward, students who complete the qualifications can keep the laptop. 

Those who would like more information about the CAECE program can send an email to [email protected] 

Paid Placement Scheme

The Practicum Placement Scheme (PPS) funds the payment of wages for educators working toward an early childhood teaching degree who have a department-approved ‘exceptional circumstance’ in place and who haven’t yet completed their degree so that they will be able to access paid practicum in 2024 under the scheme.

The amount payable to eligible applicants under the PPS is $35.41 per hour for a maximum of 30 hours for a maximum of four weeks.

Eligible participants have been contacted, however anyone who feels they may have missed and would be eligible is invited to reach out to [email protected] 

Qualifications Pathways Program 

The Qualifications Pathways Program (QPP) provides tuition subsidies and wrap-around support to early childhood educators to upgrade their qualifications. 

Eligible participants who began studying a Bachelor or Graduate Diploma level (early childhood teacher approved) qualifications in 2023 and 2024 could be eligible to receive tuition subsidies and wrap-around support. Diploma or Certificate III in early childhood applicants may be eligible for significant wrap-around support.

“The wraparound support provided in QPP includes access to coaching and mentoring activities, support with study leave and incentive payments or other financial allowances to assist with studies, such as purchasing textbooks or laptops,” Ms Fitzsimmons said.

To determine if your service is eligible contact [email protected]  

For more information about the range of support on offer in the training and capability building space please see here.