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Financial support to study and work in early childhood

Financial support in the form of scholarships and employment incentives is available for people looking for a rewarding career in the early childhood sector.

Financial support in the form of scholarships and employment incentives is available for people looking for a rewarding career in the early childhood sector.

There is a range of generous scholarships available, whether you are starting your study, upskilling as an educator, or already studying an early childhood teaching qualification.

Financial incentives are available for early childhood teachers and educators to take up positions in services delivering the nation-leading Three-Year-Old Kindergarten reform.

Register your interestExternal Link to learn more about the incentives available for the state-wide roll-out of Three-Year-Old Kindergarten in 2022

Innovative early childhood teaching courses

Educators looking to take the next step in their career can now apply for a place in the Early Childhood Innovative Initial Teacher program, with a range of supported, employment-based courses.

Students will be able to stay in the workforce while they learn, and financial support packages will assist with course fees, study materials and other expenses. Paid study and placement leave may also be available. This will help students who otherwise could not afford to study to do so.

Scholarships and financial incentives available

Accelerated Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

Educators looking to take the next step in their career can apply for an accelerated Bachelor of Early Childhood Education at the following universities:

  • Australian Catholic University
  • Deakin University
  • Victoria University

These innovative degree programs mean Victorian educators can upskill to become an early childhood teacher in a compressed timeframe of between 18 months and two years.

Courses are delivered via a combination of online, face to face and intensive study options, and recognition of prior study and professional experience.

The program is open to anyone with a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, or an equivalent qualificationExternal Link . Eligible students will also be able to access mentoring and coaching to help them successfully complete their courses.

Visit Innovative Early Childhood Teaching courses to find out more, or visit the university websites directly:

Scholarships to become a teacher

There is a range of generous scholarships available, for those who are starting to study, or are already studying, an approved qualification to become a registered early childhood teacher. This includes educators who are looking to upskill. Scholarships comprise both study and employment milestone payments.

Information about other eligibility requirements is available below.

How to apply

Apply for this scholarship on the early childhood scholarships and incentives application portalExternal Link .

Aboriginal pathway scholarships

Early childhood Aboriginal Pathway scholarships are available for eligible Aboriginal people wanting to become an early childhood teacher or educator, including those looking to upskill and those already studying. Scholarships comprise both study and employment milestone payments*.

Eligible qualifications

  • To become a registered early childhood teacher you will need to enrol in an approved qualification
  • To become an early childhood educator you will need to enrol in either Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113) or Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50113)

*Only employment milestone payments are available to those studying to become an educator through the Free TAFE initiative.

Information about other eligibility requirements is available below.

How to apply

Apply for this scholarship on the early childhood scholarships and incentives application portalExternal Link .

Teacher incentives

Financial incentives valued from $9,000 to $50,000 are available to attract qualified early childhood teachers to work in services delivering Three-Year-Old Kindergarten.

There are two types of teacher incentives available from July 2022 to June 2023:

  • Individual incentives of $9,000 are available for eligible qualified early childhood teachers working outside the Victorian early childhood sector to take up a teaching role at any service delivering, or planning to deliver, funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten in 2023.
  • Location incentives of between $9,000 to $50,000 are available for qualified early childhood teachers who secure a teaching role at selected services. Services will be notified if they are pre-approved for a location incentive.

Eligible applicants who meet the criteria for both types of incentives will be able to receive both payments.

A relocation supplement of between $2,000 and $8,000 will be available to any eligible incentive recipient who relocates more than 200km from their current place of residence.

Information about other eligibility requirements is available below.

How to apply

Search for jobs with a Location Incentive on the Early Childhood Jobs websiteExternal Link , by clicking ‘Opportunity type’ and selecting ‘Position with a location incentive’.

Eligible early childhood teachers should apply for an incentive via the early childhood scholarships and incentives application portalExternal Link within 60 days of accepting a position.

Educator incentives

Financial incentives valued at $9,000 are available to attract qualified early childhood educators to work in services delivering Three-Year-Old Kindergarten.

There are two types of educator incentives available from July 2022 to June 2023:

  • Individual incentives of $9,000 for eligible educators working outside funded kindergarten in the Victorian early childhood education sector, to take up a role in a funded kindergarten program at any service delivering funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten in 2023.
  • Location incentives of $9,000 for eligible educators to take up a role in a funded kindergarten program at selected services.

Eligible applicants who meet the criteria for both types of incentives will be able to receive both payments.

A relocation supplement of between $2,000 and $8,000 will be available to any eligible incentive recipient who relocates more than 200km from their current place of residence.

Information about other eligibility requirements is available below.

How to apply

Search for jobs with a Location Incentive on the Early Childhood Jobs websiteExternal Link , by clicking ‘Opportunity type’ and selecting ‘Position with a location incentive’.

Eligible early childhood educators should apply for an incentive via the early childhood scholarships and incentives application portalExternal Link within 60 days of accepting a position.

Guidelines

More information

Scholarships and incentives are delivered by BUSY At Work on behalf of the Department of Education and Training.

Choosing a career in early childhood

Hear from students and teachers talking about becoming an early childhood teacher.

Watch the Choosing a Career video on Vimeo Early Childhood TeachersExternal Link

Watch the Application for the Early Childhood video on Vimeo Scholarship programExternal Link

Reviewed 02 April 2023

Education

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