ATTRACTION, recruitment and retention of teachers are the aims of a scholarship program that will allow students to study free for secondary teaching degrees – and help fill gaps in regions like Swan Hill.
The Victorian Government announced earlier in the week that it will help grow the school workforce across the state with a $229.8 million package that will provide a variety of scholarships and incentives.
An investment of up to $93.2 million will provide new scholarships to support teaching degree students with the cost of studying and living. The scholarships will be available to all students who enrol in secondary school teaching degrees in 2024 and 2025, with final payments if they then work in Victorian government schools for two years after they graduate.
A further $27 million will continue and expand the Targeted Financial Incentives Program, which provides incentives of up to $50,000 to teachers from Victoria, interstate and overseas to take up rural, remote and otherwise hard-to-staff positions in government schools.
Swan Hill College principal Kristen Le Gassick told The Guardian that she is excited about the announcement.
“With the current workforce pressures, we believe this is a fantastic incentive to encourage and financially support people of all ages through their studies to enter the teaching profession,” she said.
“With a number of our staff going on maternity leave this year, we have found it difficult to fill positions. While we have been able to access casual relief teachers to take classes, this incentive will be a great help moving forward.
“The added bonus of final payments and matching fees if they remain at a government school will help to fill the shortages we are experiencing.”
Another $95.7 million will goes towards expanding the Career Start initiative to support and retain teachers, developing graduate teachers in government schools with extra preparation time, mentoring and other professional support to help them flourish in their first year of teaching.
In addition, an investment of almost $13.9 million will support a trial of employment-based degrees for undergraduates, which would allow people to study and qualify as a teacher while undertaking paid work at a school.
“Teachers change lives – it’s as simple as that,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
“This will mean one less barrier for Victorians thinking of a career in teaching, and more great teachers for the education state.”
