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Financial support to study and work in early childhood

Get help with the cost of studying or working in early childhood. Learn about available funding, scholarships and incentives for new and existing educators.

On this page

Register your interest(opens in a new window) to learn more about opportunities and incentives for early childhood professionals.

You can also apply for a scholarship or incentive(opens in a new window).

Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships Program

The Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships Program offers tailored courses with extra support for future teachers and educators. Courses have been designed to offer a range of flexible learning options and additional benefits so students can choose a course that is right for them.

The program includes tertiary courses for students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who may require in-language support and culturally responsive academic and workplace mentors.

Universities, TAFEs and RTOs are delivering the program across Victoria with some providers delivering in targeted locations in areas of high demand. Opportunities are available to new students, career changers or educators looking to upskill to become a teacher.

Early Childhood Scholarships Program

Early Childhood Scholarships help eligible individuals starting or currently studying an approved course to become registered early childhood teachers. Following the success of the Certificate III Upskill Support Program, scholarships are also now available for educators upskilling to a Diploma qualification.

The following scholarship funding is available under this program with all amounts listed before tax:

  • for bachelor's degrees: up to $25,000
  • for master's degrees: up to $18,000
  • for a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care: up to $7,000

How to apply

Apply for Early Childhood Scholarships through the early childhood scholarships and incentives application portal(opens in a new window).

You must meet the eligibility requirements. Please read the Guidelines below before applying.

For more information, including help checking your eligibility, contact BUSY at Work at: EC.Financial.Support@education.vic.gov.au or call 1300 161 396.

Early Childhood Scholarships Program guidelines

New guidelines from 1 December 2025

These are for scholarships awarded on or after 1 December 2025.

Legacy guidelines

These are for scholarships awarded before 1 December 2025.

Early Childhood Aboriginal Pathways Scholarships Program

Early Childhood Aboriginal Pathways Scholarships are available for eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These scholarships support those wanting to become early childhood teachers or educators, including those who want to upskill are already studying.

This program reflects the Victorian Government’s commitment to growing the Koorie early childhood workforce. You can find out more about this commitment in the Marrung Strategy.(opens in a new window)

The following scholarship funding is available under this program with all amounts listed are before tax:

  • For a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care: up to $2,500
  • For a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care: up to $9,000
  • For bachelor's degrees: up to $34,000
  • For graduate diplomas: up to $16,000
  • For master's degrees: up to $24,000

How to apply

Apply for Early Childhood Aboriginal Pathway scholarships through the early childhood scholarships and incentives application portal(opens in a new window).

You must meet eligibility requirements. Please read the Guidelines below before applying.

For more information, including help checking your eligibility, contact BUSY at Work at: EC.Financial.Support@education.vic.gov.au or call 1300 161 396.

Guidelines

Certificate III Upskill Support Program

The Certificate III Upskill Support Program offered financial support to eligible educators holding a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) wanting to upskill to a Diploma of ECEC.

How to apply

Applications for the Certificate III Upskill Support Program are now closed. However, educators with a current Certificate III in ECEC can apply for an Early Childhood Scholarship if they want to upskill to a Diploma of ECEC.

Legacy guidelines

These are for those educators who received financial support under the Certificate III Upskills Support Program in 2024 and 2025.

Teacher incentives

Under the Victorian Early Childhood Teacher Incentives program, there are two types of financial incentives available for qualified early childhood teachers:

  • Individual incentives of $9,000 (before tax) are available for eligible early childhood teachers working outside the Victorian early childhood sector to take up a teaching role at any service delivering, or planning to deliver a funded kindergarten program.
  • Location incentives of between $9,000 to $50,000 (before tax) are available for eligible early childhood teachers who take up a teaching role 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 $1,000 to $8,000 will also be available for incentive recipients who relocate more than 100km from their current place of residence to take up a role.

Information about the Victorian Early Childhood Teacher Incentives program (including eligibility requirements) is available in the Guidelines below.

How to apply

Search for jobs with a Location Incentive on the Early Childhood Jobs website(opens in a new window), by clicking ‘DE Location Incentive’.

Eligible early childhood teachers should apply for an incentive via the early childhood scholarships and incentives application portal(opens in a new window) within 60 days of accepting a position.

Guidelines

Educator incentives

Under the Targeted Educator Incentives program, there are two types of educator incentives available for qualified early childhood educators:

  • Educator individual incentives of $9,000 (before tax) for eligible educators currently working outside the Victorian early childhood education sector, to take up an educator role in a kindergarten room at any service delivering or planning to deliver a funded kindergarten program.
  • Educator location incentives of $9,000 (before tax) for eligible educators who take up an educator role in a kindergarten room at selected services delivering a funded kindergarten program.

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

A relocation supplement of between $1,000 to $8,000 will also be available for incentive recipients who relocate more than 100km from their current place of residence to take up a role.

Information about the Targeted Educator Incentives program (including eligibility requirements) is available in the Guidelines below.

How to apply

Search for jobs with a Location Incentive on the Early Childhood Jobs website(opens in a new window), by clicking ‘DE Location Incentive’.

Eligible early childhood educators should apply for an incentive via the early childhood scholarships and incentives application portal(opens in a new window) 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.

You can contact Busy At Work via:

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.

Watch the Application for the Early Childhood Scholarships Program video on Vimeo.

Early childhood

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