Do you aspire to shape the future of the next generation of students? Our Aspiring Teacher Scholarship will support you on your journey to become a state school teacher. Financial and employment incentives to support eligible preservice teachers continuing in an undergraduate or postgraduate initial teacher education program are available from Semester 1, 2025.

Job details

Preservice teachers who are former recipients of the Aspiring Teacher Grant and career professionals who complete teaching qualifications and who seek to share their knowledge, skills and experience in teaching areas and/or locations of high demand are invited to apply for the Aspiring Teacher Scholarship.

Scholarship details

• Financial assistance valued up to $30,000 (before tax) to assist with study related expenses.
• Opportunity to secure permanent employment as a teacher in a Queensland state school priority location and/or school with a priority subject after graduation.
• Access to departmental resources, information and support to prepare for your professional experience placements.
• Access to department, school and community networks.
• Options to seek professional experience grants to complete compulsory professional experience placements if undertaken in a priority location.

About You

You are a 2^nd year preservice teacher who is a former recipient of an Aspiring Teacher Grant or a mid-career professional (career changer), who in Semester 1, 2025 will be:

• continuing in an undergraduate or postgraduate initial teacher education (ITE) program at an Australian Higher Education Institution
• specialising in a priority secondary subject including English, Mathematics, Science, Technologies (including Hospitality, Industrial Technology and Design Education), Languages, and Special Education¹
• committed to teaching in a Queensland state school in a priority location² and/or subject area upon completion of the ITE program for a minimum service period of up to 4 years³
• an Australian citizen or person who resides in Australia and has permission, under a Commonwealth law, to study and work in Australia after completion of the ITE program, and
• not receiving financial support from another Department of Education scholarship or internship program.

¹ those who specialise in subject areas not listed above can apply for the scholarship, however candidates who specialise in a priority subject or learning area will be prioritised. 
² priority location means Queensland state schools as per the Department of Education Schools Directory within a local government area other than Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast City Council, Noosa Shire Council and Sunshine Coast City Council.
³ minimum service period is equal to the duration of the study period for which financial assistance was provided. If the scholarship is awarded to support two years of the initial teacher education program, the minimum service period will be two years.

Why apply?

This is a great opportunity to continue in your journey of becoming a teacher with the Department of Education. Upon completion of study, the Department will also guarantee permanent teacher employment in a Queensland state school priority location and/or subject area provided you meet all suitability requirements for teacher employment.

How to apply

• Review the Fact Sheet and Guidelines (below)
• Gather all your supporting documents (as listed in the Supporting Documents Checklist below)
• Click the green ‘apply online' button (below) – you may need to create an account
• When logged into your Smart Jobs account, complete the online questionnaire including responses to supporting questions and upload ALL the supporting documentation
• Submit your application by 11 July 2025.

As permanent employment is offered upon successful completion of the ITE program, the scholarship payments provided by the Aspiring Teacher Scholarship is deemed by the Australian Taxation Office to be “taxable income”. It is recommended that candidates seek independent financial advice for any implications the payment/s may have on current and future earnings/taxable income/benefits received. 

Further information

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

Detailed information about this scholarship is provided in the Fact Sheet and Guidelines (below under ‘documents’).

Documents

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

• ATS - Document checklist (PDF, 242KB)
  Checklists
  
  ATS - Factsheet (PDF, 319KB)
  Application Kit
  
  ATS - Guidelines (PDF, 470KB)
  Application Kit