New paid pathway opens door to teaching careers in Tasmania

A new paid employment-based pathway launched by the University of Tasmania is set to make teaching careers more accessible, offering career changers and university graduates the opportunity to earn an income while completing their teaching qualification.

The Change2Teaching program, delivered in partnership with Tasmania’s Department for Education, Children and Young People, will support participants to complete a two-year Master of Teaching while working in Tasmanian government schools.

The initiative aims to strengthen the state’s teaching workforce, support regional communities and remove financial barriers that can prevent people from moving into education.

Tasmania, like many parts of Australia, continues to face teacher workforce pressures across primary, secondary and specialist teaching areas.

The new pathway responds directly to this challenge by allowing participants to work in schools while studying, gaining practical classroom experience from the beginning of their qualification.

Participants will be employed in Tasmanian government schools for part of each week, supported by experienced mentor teachers, while completing their university study through regional learning hubs.

The program is designed for people who already hold a university degree and are interested in transitioning into teaching.

By combining paid employment, mentoring and academic study, the pathway aims to reduce the financial impact of returning to university and make teaching a more realistic option for people with existing professional and life experience.

For regional and rural communities, the model also supports local workforce development by enabling participants to study and work closer to home.

The employment-based model gives participants the opportunity to build confidence and capability in real school environments while progressing towards their teaching qualification.

Schools benefit from additional support from people who are actively training to become teachers, while participants gain a clearer understanding of classroom practice, school communities and student learning.

Following graduation, participants will move into permanent teaching roles within Tasmania’s government school system.

While the program is focused on schools, it reflects a broader national conversation about how Australia can attract more people into education careers.

Across both schools and early childhood education and care, governments, universities and employers are increasingly exploring flexible pathways that reduce financial barriers, support career changers and strengthen workforce supply.

The Change2Teaching pilot will offer 40 places, with participants to commence study in 2027.

Applications are now open and close on 30 August 2026.

Read the University of Tasmania announcement here.