New Scholarships Aim to Boost Teacher Numbers & Address Shortages
A scholarship program designed to alleviate Australia’s teacher shortage has already provided financial assistance to nearly 2,000 students, with further applications now open until January 12, 2026. The initiative is a key component of the National Teacher workforce Action Plan, agreed upon by Education Ministers from across the Commonwealth, states and territories in December 2022.
The scholarships target both high-achieving school leavers and mid-career professionals from diverse backgrounds, including First Nations peoples, individuals with disabilities, those for whom English is an additional language, students from rural, regional, and remote areas, and people from low socio-economic backgrounds. Thirty per cent of recipients to date come from regional,rural,or remote locations.
Triumphant applicants can receive up to $40,000 for undergraduate studies or $20,000 for postgraduate studies in accredited initial teacher education degrees. In return, recipients commit to teaching for four years (undergraduate) or two years (postgraduate) in government schools or early learning settings.
Education Minister Jason Clare emphasized the importance of attracting more people to the teaching profession. “Being a teacher is the most critically important job in the world, and we don’t have enough of them,” he stated. “We want more young people to consider teaching as a career, and we want to encourage mid-career professionals to make the switch.”
The scholarship program is part of a broader strategy to address the teacher shortage, alongside reforms to teacher training and the introduction of the Commonwealth Prac Payment for teaching students.
The National Teacher Workforce action Plan focuses on five key priority areas: improving teacher supply, strengthening initial teacher education, retaining existing teachers, elevating the profession, and gaining a better understanding of future workforce needs. The plan aims not only to increase the number of individuals entering the teaching profession but also to ensure teacher education programs adequately prepare graduates for the classroom.
Efforts to improve teacher retention include increased support, enhanced career pathways, reduced workloads, and a greater focus on core teaching tasks and collaboration. All jurisdictions are also working to publicly recognise the vital role teachers play in students’ lives, communities, and the economy. An update to the action plan, published in October 2025, details progress made over the past two years and highlights collaborative efforts across governments and the education sector.
Further details about the Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships Program can be found at https://www.education.gov.au/teaching-scholarships.
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on https://region.com.au/more-40000-scholarships-on-offer-for-teaching-degrees/922218/.
