Have you wondered what it would be like to teach, live, and explore a regional community in Queensland (or want to go back!)? Now's your chance! If you’re eligible, this grant will assist with placement-related expenses for you to complete your professional experience placement in a regional Queensland state school during Semester 1 2026.

Job details

The grant is to assist with placement-related expenses* (i.e., transport, accommodation, meals, incidentals) for eligible placements in term Semester 1 2026 (27 January to 26 June) of the 2026 state school calendar:

• $2,250 - minimum consecutive 15 days
• $3,000 - 20 days
• $3,200 - 25-35 days
• $3,400 - 40+ days

*Please keep receipts and seek financial advice regarding potential implications for tax/income/benefits. If you are a current employee of the department, your grant will be taxed.

To be eligible, you must be:

• enrolled in your 3rd/4th year of an undergraduate or 1st/2nd year of a postgraduate accredited initial teacher education program (teaching degree)
• hold a valid QLD Working with Children Blue Card
• are a person who resides in Australia and has permission under a Commonwealth Law, to study in Australia.

The placement must be undertaken in a QLD state school that has a transfer rating between TR2-3 and is located:

• at least 2 hours (each way) from where you currently live to the state school, and
• within Central QLD, Darling Downs-South West, Far North QLD, North QLD and select schools in the North Coast and Metro South.

Eligible state schools are highlighted blue or orange in the maps below. Private and Independent schools are not eligible for the grant.
If you're on a PTT, you may be eligible if the eligibility criteria (above) are met.

How to apply
Step 1. Organise your placement

1. Select a state school for the placement ensuring it meets the eligibility criteria (above).
2. Organise the placement with the university.
3. Ensure all required documents are ready before applying.

Step 2. Apply for the grant. Once your placement is confirmed in Sonia Online or InPlace:

1. Click the ‘Apply Online' button below
2. Upload the required documents listed below
3. Complete all the questions in the online questionnaire.

Required documents
You must upload all of the following documents. Please refer to the document checklist (PDF) for detailed information.

• Confirmation of your professional experience placement school and dates.
• Confirmation of enrolment in an Initial Teacher Education program.
• Current academic transcript.
• Previous professional experience placement reports.
• Valid blue card for working with children.
• Short resume/curriculum vitae.

Important information

• Do not submit your application until all required documentation is ready.
• Applications missing essential documents cannot proceed to verification and will remain pending until complete, which may result in significant delays.
• Incomplete applications or applications submitted less than 6 weeks before the placement start date may result receiving the grant while on placement.

Semester 2 Placements
If your placement in a Queensland Government state school is scheduled for Sem 2, 2026 (10 Jul - 11 Dec), applications open in mid‑2026. Please register your interest to receive a notification when applications become available.

Selection process
You'll be advised of the outcome within 10 weeks of submitting your grant application (please allow longer during peak times). This may include a request for further information or acceptance of an offer from you. Please remember to regularly check your emails including the bin/junk/spam/trash folders for updates.

Conditions of the grant
Please read the conditions of the grant before applying.

Payment of the grant
Payment can take up to 4 weeks and is initiated upon receipt and verification of all required documents. Payment will be provided in a lump sum via EFT or with your fortnightly pay if you're an employee of the department. You are required to notify the Department of any changes to the approved placement particulars. Please keep the receipts for placement-related expenses and seek financial advice (i.e., an advisor, ATO and/or Centrelink) regarding potential implications to income and/or benefits received/to be paid. If you're an employee of the Department of Education during your placement, the grant will be provided to you with your fortnightly pay and will be taxed as per the ATO requirements.

Further information

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

Please read the RPEG Fact Sheet and the RPEG Doc Checklist (below) for detailed information. The grant offering, eligibility, conditions, and particulars are offered at the department's discretion.

Documents

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

• RPEG Fact Sheet 2026 S1 (PDF, 395KB)
  
  
  RPEG Doc Checklist 2026 S1 (PDF, 209KB)
  
  
  RPEG Conditions for Payment 2026 S1 (PDF, 229KB)
  
  
  RPEG List of Eligible Sate Schools 2026 S1 (PDF, 829KB)
  
  
  RPEG Far North QLD map of the eligible schools 2026 S1 (PDF, 7.96MB)
  
  
  RPEG North QLD map of the eligible schools 2026 S1 (PDF, 7.36MB)
  
  
  RPEG Central QLD map of the eligible schools 2026 S1 (PDF, 4.59MB)
  
  
  RPEG North Coast map of the eligible schools 2026 S1 (PDF, 9.24MB)
  
  
  RPEG Metro South map of the eligible schools 2026 S1 (PDF, 8.43MB)
  
  
  RPEG Darling Downs South West map of the eligible schools 2026 S1 (PDF, 3.32MB)