The Beyond the Range Professional Experience Grant will provide eligible preservice teachers with a one-off grant in semester 2, 2023 to complete a professional experience placement in an eligible rural/remote Queensland state school that has a transfer rating of 4-7.

Job details

About the Grant

The Beyond the Range Professional Experience Grant provides financial support for preservice teachers to teach, live, and explore the local community and surrounds while completing a professional experience placement in a QLD state school during semester 2, 2023.

Recipients will receive a one-off grant to assist with organising placement-related travel expenses (i.e., transport, accommodation, meals, incidentals).

The grant is based on the duration of the placement not the transfer rating (TR) of the state school:

• $3,375 for a (minimum consecutive) 15-day placement
• $4,500 for a 20-day placement
• $4,700 for placements between 25-35 days
• $5,000 for placements 40 or more days

Please keep placement-related receipts and seek financial advice regarding potential personal tax or financial implications.

Eligibility for the grant 

To be eligible for a grant, you must:

• be currently enrolled at an Australian University in your 3^rd or 4^th year of an undergraduate (i.e., Bachelor of Education) initial teacher education (ITE) program or 1^st or 2^nd year of a postgraduate (i.e., Master of Teaching) ITE program
• hold a QLD Working with Children Blue Card with currency during the placement

The (minimum consecutive) 15-day placement in a state school that has a transfer rating of TR4-TR7 must be located:

• at least 2 hours (each way) from where you are currently living, and
• within the priority locations of Central Queensland, Darling Downs-South West, Far North or North Queensland.

Refer to the Choose your teaching adventure booklet for the eligible state schools. Agnes Water, Lowmead and Wartburg state schools in the North Coast are not eligible for the grant nor are private or independent schools. 

Candidates who are on permission-to-teach (PTT) may be eligible for the grant if undertaking an unpaid placement and meet the eligibility criteria (above). Contact the Scholarships and Grants team to confirm your eligibility.

Application Process

Step 1 - Organise your placement

1. determine the state school for the placement. Be intentional with your research - you never know what opportunities that may arise!
2. ensure the state school meets the eligibility criteria (above)
3. liaise with the placement office/officer at the university to organise the placement.

Step 2 - Apply for the grant

After your placement is confirmed in writing (i.e. Sonia Online or InPlace),

1. apply for the grant (green ‘apply online' button below)
2. log into Smart Jobs (create an account if needed):
• in the ‘upload files' section, upload the documents requested in the BTRG Doc Checklist (below) including: unofficial academic transcript, enrolment, blue card, placement confirmation, resume and placement reports
• respond to all questions in the online questionnaire.

Incomplete applications or applications submitted less than 6 weeks before the placement start date may result in a delayed payment including receiving the grant whilst on placement. If you experience difficulties uploading your documents, upload what you can and email the rest to the department.

Step 3 – Grant offers

You'll be advised of the outcome of your application within 3 weeks of applying for the grant to either (a) seek further information (b) provide an offer letter. Regularly check your email junk/trash/spam folders.

A condition for payment is to notify the department of any changes to the approved placement particulars (i.e. a re-scheduled, cancelled or terminated placement) which may affect the grant amount paid/repaid.

Step 4 – Payment of the grant

Payment will be made by EFT when the acceptance of the offer has been provided. Payment can take up to 3 weeks.

It's envisaged that this grant will be offered again in semester 1, 2024. Register here to receive an email when applications open.

Further information

We are committed to building inclusive cultures in the Queensland public sector that respect and promote human rights and diversity.

The grant offering, eligibility and conditions are subject to change at any time at the department's discretion. Detailed information can be found in the attached BTRG Fact Sheet and if the question isn’t answered, email scholarships@qed.qld.gov.au

Documents

Before applying for this vacancy please ensure you read the documents below.

• BTRG Doc Checklist 2023-S2 (PDF, 169KB)
  Checklists
  
  BTRG Fact Sheet 2023-S2 (PDF, 106KB)
  Information Package for Applicants
  
  BTRG Map CQR Eligible Schools 2023-S2 (PDF, 4.51MB)
  Information Package for Applicants
  
  BTRG Map DSR Eligible Schools 2023-S2 (PDF, 4.53MB)
  Information Package for Applicants
  
  BTRG Map FNQ Eligible Schools 2023-S2 (PDF, 3.68MB)
  Information Package for Applicants
  
  BTRG Map NQR Eligible Schools 2023-S2 (PDF, 3.18MB)
  Information Package for Applicants
  
  BTRG Map NCR Eligible Schools 2023-S2 (PDF, 4.52MB)
  Information Package for Applicants