About the scholarships

The Pearl Duncan Teaching Scholarships# (previously the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teaching Scholarships) were developed by the Department of Education and Training to assist aspiring teachers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent to complete their degrees and make a difference in education.

The department realises the importance of having a state teaching workforce mirroring the diversity of students attending our schools. This is especially significant for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community where teachers undertake the important task of role models for the up and coming generation.

The scholarships provide financial assistance to scholarship holders to gain degrees in education (on a full-time basis) at Queensland universities. Scholarships are valued at up to $20,000 each (before tax).

Following the satisfactory completion of their course and gaining an acceptable suitability ranking from the department, scholarship holders are guaranteed employment in Queensland State schools for a time equivalent to the duration of their full-time study.

Employment is conditional upon the scholarship holder maintaining teacher registration and being willing to be employed in any geographical location in Queensland.

They become permanent teachers of the department upon successful completion of their initial probationary period.

The scholarships are targeted at school leavers, postgraduate students and non-teaching employees of the Department of Education and Training who plan to undertake a full-time teaching degree course. Mature age students can apply under the post-schooling/special consideration category.

# In 2005 the scholarships were renamed the Pearl Duncan Teaching Scholarships in honour of Pearl Duncan, an Aboriginal educator who has dedicated her life to improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in education.

For further information, please contact the Project Officer, Strategic Partnerships in the Professional Development Unit.

^ Top of page