Koorie Teaching Scholarships

Teaching today is a challenging and rewarding career that lets you help young people shine. With a range of employment opportunities in Victorian government schools, now is a great time to consider a career in teaching. To learn more about teaching in Victorian Government Schools and to find your nearest teaching course, see: Teaching@DEECD

Third Round

Third Round Applications are now open. Applications close 31 October 2011.

Important Notice

Exemption has been granted under Section 83 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (No. A17/2011) to advertise the The Koorie Teaching Scholarships to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants only.

Wannik Education Strategy promotes Koorie Teaching Scholarships

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development wishes to deliver the best possible education to Victoria's Koorie students.

Through collaboration with the Koorie community the Department is repositioning the education of Koorie students through a culture of strong leadership, high expectations and individualised learning.

The educational performance of Koorie students in Victoria has shown some improvement over time, with quite significant gains evident in some areas. Despite this improvement, educational outcomes for Koorie students remain behind those of non-Koorie students.

The Department is keen to promote to existing students in a teacher training course, those Koorie students who have completed Year 12 and Adults to consider a career in teaching.

Following a decision of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the following Koorie Teaching Scholarships will be available to current student teachers.

Application Requirements

The details of the Koorie Teaching Scholarships are as follows:

All applicants

The scholarship is a (non taxable) grant for students studying full time and may cover some of but not be limited to the following:

• Course costs including fees, support during teaching rounds, textbooks, information technology requirements and other study costs
• Assistance with living expenses
• Provision of a case manager to support the student through their studies

Successful applicants will be required to complete a Scholarship Progress Report annually.

Applicants must be:

• An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and meet the Commonwealth requirements for identification as such
• Committed to and be able to demonstrate a willingness to work in and with the Koorie community

All applicants are required to provide:

• All applicants are encouraged to provide a Certificate of Aboriginality. In circumstances where a Certificate of Aboriginality is difficult to obtain Wannik will accept the signed statutory declaration in the application form as confirmation of aboriginality.
• Application is to be witnessed and sign the Statutory Declaration
• A Letter of Offer as evidence that they are currently, or have Course Registration that you have been accepted in to or be already studying an education (teaching) course of study and a certified copy of your Academic Transcript.

All Koorie Teaching Scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to be supported by an accomplished teacher or teacher educator from the Mentor Bank of the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

Year 12 Leavers

Koorie Teaching Scholarships for Year 12 Leavers provides up to four years to an applicant currently studying full or part time that has just left secondary school. There will be up to 7 scholarships offered in 2012.

The Koorie Teaching Scholarship is open to any identified Victorian Koorie student currently studying a Victorian accredited teaching degree and intending to teach in a Victorian government school.

The (non taxable) grant is for students studying full or part time. The Scholarship is not linked to any guarantee of employment.

Current Student Teachers

Koorie Teaching Scholarships for Current Student Teachers will provide a scholarship to applicants currently studying full or part time who:

• Have completed their second or third year of an undergraduate education degree
• Are enrolled or will be enrolled in an accredited graduate-entry teacher education course

The scholarship will support students to enable them to complete their teachers education studies. There will be up to 7 scholarships in 2012

The scholarship will be given to applicants who understand the value of the public education sector. It will be open to any identified Victorian Koorie student currently studying a Victorian accredited teaching degree and intending to teach in a Victorian government school. The scholarship is not linked to any guarantee of employment.

Mature Age

The Koorie Teaching Scholarship for Mature Age is open to any adult Victorian Koorie who is accepted to a full time Victorian accredited teaching degree up to four years in Semester 1 2011 and intending to teach in a Victorian government school. There will be up to 6 scholarships in 2012.

The scholarship will be given to applicants who understand the value of the public education sector and are prepared to guarantee a commitment to a Victorian school for two years subsequent to completion of their teaching degree and their registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

The scholarship is designed to provide support for the duration of a full time teaching degree up to four years to cover costs associated with obtaining a teaching degree and to provide individualised support to recipients. The scholarship is not linked to any guarantee of employment.

If current employees the grant for course costs is PAYG taxable. Accommodation and living expenses may be tax exempt if the person needs to relocate to attend university course requirements.

Guidelines and Application Form

For more information, see: Koorie Teaching Scholarships Round 3 Guidelines (PDF - 231Kb).

To apply, see: Koorie Teaching Scholarships Round 3 Application Form (Word - 98Kb).