More than 400 aspiring early childhood teachers across NSW are set to receive a cash boost to complete their higher education studies thanks to NSW Government investment.
Two early learning educators from Bathurst have been awarded scholarships.
- Emma Dennis
- Elyssa Sargent, SDN Hamilton Street
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said almost $11 million has been invested from the NSW 2022/23 Budget to deliver scholarships to support educators in entering the workforce or to boost their skills as degree-qualified early childhood teachers.
“Every successful applicant will be awarded up to $25,000, and I am so pleased that four early learning professionals in the Bathurst electorate, including Emma and Elyssa, will benefit from it.” Mr Toole said.
“This record investment into the early childhood education workforce will support the Government’s commitment of addressing workforce supply issues and build a sustainable pipeline of future early childhood teachers.”
These scholarships will help create a viable supply of early learning professionals under the 2022-23 Early Childhood Education Scholarships Program and Aboriginal Early Childhood Education Scholarships program.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said one-third of all successful scholars live and work in regional and remote areas across the state, which will help create lasting benefits now and into the future for all NSW children, families and the economy.
“With submissions from hundreds of talented applicants, many already working in community preschools and long day care services, it’s great to support these applicants to retrain or start their early childhood career,” Ms Mitchell said.
“These scholarships will support recipients to deepen their understanding of early childhood environments and gain additional skills and capabilities which will be passed on to the children they teach.
“I congratulate the scholars on their commitment to education and I wish them every success in their studies and future careers as qualified early childhood teachers.”
More than 18,000 prospective early childhood teachers and carers will be supported to enter the sector or boost their skills thanks to a $281.6 million workforce package in the NSW Government’s 2022/23 Budget.
The NSW Government has committed $15.9 billion to deliver a brighter future for every child in NSW through a revolutionary transformation of early childhood education, child development and women’s economic participation over the next decade. Through the introduction of a universal pre-Kindergarten year, the Brighter Beginnings initiative, workforce package and affordable preschools, the Liberals and Nationals Government are ensuring NSW is the best state to live, work and raise a family.
More information can be found on the Department’s website: https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education/working-in-early-childhood-education/professional-development-and-scholarships
