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South Australian ECEC professionals offered financial support for professional growth

Freya Lucas

Sep 30, 2024

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Aspiring early childhood education and care (ECEC) professionals in South Australia are being invited to investigate the range of financial assistance currently available to offset costs related to their study.

SA residents who are studying Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) eligible early childhood qualifications can now access the QualifySA in Early Childhood Financial Support Program, which is open to school leavers, career changers, existing students studying eligible early childhood qualifications, and educators looking to upskill.

To be eligible for assistance applicants must be:

a South Australian resident
starting or have received an offer to study an eligible early childhood qualification
an Australian or New Zealand citizen

If eligible, the program provides applicants with milestone payments throughout their study and into the initial years of their employment.

Applications are currently being accepted from existing 2024 students or students with a letter of offer for 2025 studying an eligible early childhood qualification.

QualifySA in Early Childhood funding streams

There are 3 streams to the QualifySA in Early Childhood program, which are outlined below:

Teacher support

For those South Australian residents who are starting or have received an offer to study an approved early childhood birth to five bachelor or master’s degree, and who intend to work as a teacher in the early childhood sector in South Australia. This includes educators who are looking to upskill.

Financial support is available under this program for:

bachelor degrees: up to $25,000
master’s* degrees: up to $17,000

All amounts listed are before tax.

* Master’s applicants must possess an existing degree, that is not an early career teacher qualification recognised by ACECQA, unless otherwise approved by the Office for Early Childhood Development. Students studying a research Master’s are not eligible for this financial support program.

Read the financial support - teacher guidelines and review for eligibility before applying online.

The step-by-step guide to apply for study support can help to check eligibility and provides instructions on the application process.

Educator supportThis financial support program is for South Australian residents who are starting or who have received an offer to study an approved diploma of early childhood and intend to work as an educator in the early childhood sector in South Australia.

Up to $7000 in financial support is available. This includes up to $1000 for the employer if the applicant is an existing early childhood workforce employee, which can be used to offset costs such as back-filling during placement.

All amounts listed are before tax.

Read the financial support - educator guidelines before applying online.

The step-by-step guide to apply for study support can help to determine eligibility and provides instructions on the application process.

Aboriginal pathways

This financial support program is for eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons aspiring to become an early childhood teacher or educator. This may include those who have started or received an offer to study an approved early childhood qualification.

Financial support is available under this program for:

bachelor degrees: up to $34,000
master’s* degrees: up to $24,000
diplomas: up to $9000 (including up to $1000 for the employer of existing early childhood workforce employees to offset costs such as back-filling during the participant's placement).

All amounts listed are before tax.

*Master’s applicants must possess an existing degree that is not an early career teacher qualification recognised by ACECQA, unless otherwise approved by the Office for Early Childhood Development.

Students studying a research master’s are not eligible for this financial support program.

Eligibility requirements apply. Please read the financial support - Aboriginal pathways guidelines.

Apply online for teacher support - Aboriginal pathways.

Apply online for educator support - Aboriginal pathways.

The step-by-step guide to apply for study support can help to determine eligibility and provides instructions on the application process.

Grow Your Own regional and remote allowance

The Grow Your Own allowance is available to support students in regional and remote areas who face barriers to accessing higher education. This program provides eligible students with up to $10,000 over the course of their study to help them pursue their education and build careers locally.

To be eligible for the Grow Your Own allowance, an applicant must:

be a recipient of financial support through the QualifySA in Early Childhood Financial Support Program
live and plan to work in a regional or remote community.

The administrator will determine an applicant's eligibility based on their residential address.

Application assessment process

The administrator will review completed applications and provide an outcome within about 3 weeks. Successful applicants will receive pre-approval.

Once the applicant has enrolled and sent evidence of their enrolment (post-Census date) to OECD.ECWorkforceSupport@sa.gov.au they will receive final approval and the contract to progress their payments.

Funding will only be provided once the applicant has provided necessary proof after the Census date.

The administrator will contact unsuccessful applicants with feedback.

Approved early childhood qualifications

To be eligible for the QualifySA in Early Childhood Financial Support Program applicants must be starting or have received an offer to study an approved early childhood qualification recognised by ACECQA.

This includes diplomas in early childhood as well as bachelor or master's degrees focused on birth to five years of age. All qualifications must be on the approved qualifications list.

Search the list of approved qualifications on the ACECQA qualification checker.From 2025, the program will only provide financial support to new students who begin their studies that year. This means that students who started their eligible qualifications before 2025 will no longer qualify for the financial support program.

Questions should be directed to the Workforce Support unit:

Email: OECD.ECWorkforceSupport@sa.gov.au Phone: 1300 050 509

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