New Scholarship Program For Cert III Students

Aspiring early childhood educators in the Riverina are among those set to receive a financial boost thanks to a new scholarship program announced by the NSW Government.

The $23.5 million state-wide program will provide scholarships worth up to $3,000 for students studying a Certificate III and up to $5,000 for a Diploma qualification.

Duty MLC for Wagga Wagga and Murray, Wes Fang said the scholarships supported aspiring educators to upskill.

“Our early childhood workforce is critical to delivering a quality early education for our youngest learners, and these scholarships will help attract and retain this important workforce,” Mr Fang said.

“I encourage anyone who is wanting to develop their skills in the early childhood and care sector to apply for these scholarships to assist with any financial cost associated with studying.”

Minister for Education and Early Learning, Sarah Mitchell said the new VET scholarships were part of the NSW Government’s $281.6 million package announced in the Budget earlier this year to attract, retain and support early childhood educators and teachers in NSW.

“Early childhood education and care professionals make all the difference to the lives of children and families in NSW, and this new initiative will help this critical workforce to grow and upskill,” Ms Mitchell said.

“The scholarships will work in conjunction with the 25,000 fee-free places for a Cert III or Diploma qualification, which means scholarship recipients will receive a cash boost to support their studies in addition to not having to pay course fees.”

The scholarship round will remain open until January 15, 2023.

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.

Current and aspiring educators are encouraged to explore the new dedicated Early Childhood Careers section of the Department of Education’s website at https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education/initiatives/early-childhood-careers.

• Topics:

• Education
• Scholarships
• Grants / Funding