Scholarships for Teachers

The Department of Education, Training and the Arts (DETA) at times experiences high demand for teachers in some subject areas. DETA supports teachers who may want to change the focus of their teaching career into another area of expertise. In addition, DETA wants to ensure that the teaching workforce in highly specialised teaching areas have the opportunity to gain current knowledge, understanding and skills in their chosen teaching field by upgrading their skills.

To meet these departmental demands, DETA is funding the course fees for teachers to participate in a scholarship program that is aimed at meeting regional workforce needs, both in the short and long term.

Who is eligible to apply?

The scholarships are being offered as professional development scholarships or employment scholarships.

You are invited to apply for a scholarship if you are:

A registered teacher who is already working in a specialised area and you want to upgrade your qualifications through undertaking a Graduate Certificate course. This is a professional development scholarship.

A registered teacher, or, eligible for registration, and you want to complete a Graduate Certificate course to gain employment in a specialised area in which you have not worked previously. This is an employment scholarship.

What are the Teacher Scholarships?

DETA is offering up to 100 teachers the opportunity to reskill or upskill in a range of teaching areas. The scholarships take the form of financial assistance through the payment of course fees for teachers to access Graduate Certificate courses, in a variety of fields, at a Queensland University. Most of the university courses are offered in an external or online mode. On successful completion of the scholarship course, teachers undertaking an employment scholarship will be placed in regional vacancies.

Scholarship recipients will:

Select a teaching area for study:
Nominate regional preferences - employment scholarship only;
Successfully complete a Graduate Certificate (4 subject course) in Semesters One and Two, 2008;
Be employed in a region with an identified need in a teaching area in the 2008 or 2009 school year; and
Have scholarship funds paid to the university to cover coursework costs.

Following satisfactory completion of their course assessment and DETA employment requirements, successful teachers in both scholarships are required to be employed by Education Queensland for two (2) years. The teachers will be subject to the normal transfer system.

What are the high demand areas in the Regions?

The high demand teaching areas vary across the regions. Table 1 outlines the demand areas in the regions. Applicants will need to select a high demand teaching area and nominate the Region/s where they would prefer to teach.

What study is required?

Successful applicants are to be accepted into a Graduate Certificate course consisting of 4 subjects at one of the Queensland Universities which offer a suitable course. It is expected that the successful teachers will complete two (2) subjects in each Semester in 2008. The Graduate Certificate courses articulate into credit towards a Masters level degree if the applicant wishes to undertake additional study at his/her own expense.

Teachers who have completed a departmental Professional Development Pathways course and its assessment component are eligible to receive credit for a Masters level degree.

What is the selection process?

Scholarship recipients will be selected based on the following information being supplied and a possible interview:

Applicant 's short written statement regarding motivation for choosing a career in the nominated area or for upgrading skills in this area, limit of 2 x A4 pages;
A Curriculum Vitae (CV), limit of 2 x A4 pages;
Academic record for any previous tertiary study;
A written statement by a referee, limit 1 x A4 page: and
Contact details of 2 referees.

Who does the selection of teachers?

Each region will determine the selection of teachers from the group of applicants who nominate that region and an identified regional subject area. Each region will determine when the successful applicant begins working in the nominated subject area if the application is for an employment scholarship.

For the professional development scholarships, regional personnel will determine the current teachers who apply in their region and the subject priority areas in high demand.

What are the conditions of the Scholarship?

The scholarship is subject to conditions outlined in an undertaking signed by the successful applicant and a representative of the Department of Education, Training and the Arts. The conditions include:

Successful completion of the course to be undertaken in Semesters 1 and 2 2008; and

A requirement to take up or continue employment with the Department of Education, Training and the Arts for a minimum period of two years following the completion of studies.

Failure to comply with the conditions of the undertaking could attract a financial penalty and an obligation to repay the scholarship.

How is an application to be submitted?

Application forms (new window) 109k for the professional development or employment scholarships should be completed and forwarded with your statement, your CV, academic record; a referee report; and two referees contact details by Wednesday 14 November 2007 to the following address:

Scholarships for Teachers
Leonie Shaw
Strategic Human Resources
Level 16 Education House
Department of Education, Training and the Arts
PO Box 15033
CITY EAST QLD 4002

All scholarship applicants will be notified BY EMAIL of their success by the end of November 2007. In addition, successful applicants will be contacted by phone.

Enquiries - email to leonie.shaw@deta.qld.gov.au

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