ACT launches $4m scholarship program to grow the teaching workforce

A new $4 million ACT Government scholarship program aims to strengthen the teaching pipeline by supporting future educators across early childhood, primary and secondary education.

The Australian Capital Territory Government has unveiled a new $4 million Scholarship and Career Pathways to Teaching Program, designed to attract and support the next generation of educators.

The initiative will provide financial support for students studying teaching degrees while creating clearer career pathways into the ACT public education system.

For the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, the program signals a continued focus on workforce development and professional growth within the Territory’s education workforce.

The new program will offer up to 30 scholarships each year between 2026 and 2029, providing financial assistance to students undertaking Initial Teacher Education (ITE).

The scholarships are available across both undergraduate and postgraduate pathways.

Eligible students studying undergraduate teaching degrees can receive up to $50,000 in financial support, while those undertaking postgraduate qualifications may access up to $25,000.

In addition to supporting study costs, the program includes an incentive designed to encourage graduates to remain in the ACT public school system.

Graduates who complete their degree through the scholarship program and accept a temporary or permanent role in an ACT public school will receive an additional $6,000 appointment allowance.

This payment will be distributed across the graduate’s first two years of employment, with $3,000 paid each year as they transition into the workforce.

The funding aims to ease the financial pressure associated with tertiary study while helping to strengthen the pipeline of qualified teachers entering the Territory’s public education system.

The ACT Government will deliver the program in partnership with two higher education institutions: the University of Canberra (UC) and Australian Catholic University (ACU).

Professor Dean Darius von Güttner Sporzyński of Australian Catholic University Canberra Campus welcomed the partnership, highlighting its role in addressing workforce needs.

ACU is “delighted to partner with the ACT Government to address skills shortages in education,” Professor von Güttner Sporzyński said.

He added that the scholarships would provide a “significant boost for the next generation of teachers in the ACT”.

Professor von Güttner Sporzyński also pointed to ACU’s strong relationships across government and industry, noting these connections place the university in a strong position to help meet the region’s education workforce needs.

Although the program targets the broader teaching workforce, its relevance to early childhood education has been acknowledged by ACT Minister for Education and Early Childhood Yvette Berry.

Minister Berry said the investment builds on the Territory’s ongoing commitment to developing and supporting a high-quality teaching workforce.

“We understand the importance of continued training and development for our early childhood, primary and secondary teaching workforce,” Ms Berry said.

By recognising early childhood educators alongside primary and secondary teachers, the initiative reinforces the importance of professional development and career progression across the education sector.

For educators working in early learning settings, programs like this can create new opportunities to expand qualifications and move into teaching roles within the school system.

The Scholarship and Career Pathways to Teaching Program forms part of a broader effort to strengthen the ACT education workforce.

Funded through a 2024 ACT Labor election commitment, the initiative will operate alongside several existing programs designed to support entry into the teaching profession.

These include:

• scholarships supporting early childhood educators
• the ACT Teacher Scholarship Program
• the UC STEP employment-based pathway
• the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tertiary Scholarship Program

Together, these initiatives aim to create multiple pathways into teaching while supporting a diverse and sustainable workforce across the Territory.

The introduction of the new scholarship program reflects the ACT Government’s broader goal of strengthening the local teaching pipeline and encouraging more people to consider a career in education.

By reducing the financial barriers associated with university study and providing incentives for graduates to remain in the Territory, the initiative aims to support both recruitment and retention.

For the early childhood sector, the program highlights the importance of ongoing training and professional pathways that allow educators to build on their experience and expand their careers.

As the ACT continues to invest in workforce development across education, initiatives like the Scholarship and Career Pathways to Teaching Program are expected to play an important role in supporting future educators and strengthening the Territory’s education system.

For more information visit: Tertiary Scholarship Program ACT Government.