Approved teachers who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas).

There are two pathways for the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas). Please see below for the differences in the programs:

Applicants for the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) for Appointed Teachers must:

• be recommended for a permanent teacher librarian, careers advisor or EAL/D teaching position (minimum 0.6 FTE) following merit selection and be currently undertaking, or planning to enrol in the next semester, in an approved postgraduate qualification in teacher librarianship, career education, EAL/D or TESOL
• be permanently appointed to a permanent teacher librarian, careers advisor or EAL/D teaching position (minimum 0.6 FTE) and be currently undertaking, or planning to enrol in the next semester, in an approved postgraduate qualification in teacher librarianship, career education, EAL/D or TESOL.

Applicants for the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) for Temporary Teachers must:

• be engaged in a temporary role as a teacher librarian, careers advisor or English as an Additional Language/Dialect teaching position at a minimum of 0.6 FTE under a 12-month temporary contract
• be a permanent teacher who holds a substantive permanent position in a KLA other than teacher librarian, careers or English as an Additional Language/Dialect but are relieving in the specialist teaching role at a minimum of 0.6 FTE for six months.

To apply for a Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas), you will need to.

1. Download and complete all sections of the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) Application Form for Temporary Teachers or Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) Application Form for Appointed Teachers.

2. Email the principal's supporting statement to your principal and request that they complete it electronically and email it back to you.

3. Email the referee’s supporting statement to one referee and request that they complete it electronically and email it back to you.

4. Submit your completed application form, supporting statements and supporting documents by emailing sponsoredtraining@det.nsw.edu.au.

During the application period, an 'Apply now' button will be available on the Teach and Learn (Specialist Teaching Areas) webpage which will direct you to the Application forms.

The application forms are in a writable PDF format. A writable pdf is a pdf document that includes certain fields that are editable without PDF-editor software. Any writable pdf that opens in modern pdf viewers (Acrobat, Preview, Chrome, Bluebeam) will be usable in the Forms tool.

If you have not signed a form using an electronic signature before, the department’s intranet has information regarding setting up an electronic signature. Please view the how-to guide for more information.

Please ensure that your Adobe is up to date. All latest software is available through the staff portal. For additional support please contact EDConnect on 1300 32 32 32.

Hand written, photocopied or scanned applications will not be accepted.

Applications for the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) for Temporary Teachers are now closed. You can subscribe to the mailing list for updates about the program.

Applications for the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) for Appointed Teachers are accepted all year round.

You will be required to complete and submit the documents listed below as part of your application:

For Temporary Teachers:

• a current Principal's Supporting Statement for Temporary Teachers on the template provided
• a Referee’s Supporting Statement for Temporary Teachers on the template provided

For Appointed Teachers:

• a current Principal's Supporting Statement for Appointed Teachers on the template provided
• a Referee’s Supporting Statement for Appointed Teachers on the template provided

All applicants will also need to provide:

• evidence of enrolment (once available) in a recognised postgraduate master’s degree, graduate diploma or graduate certificate. It is preferred that applicants enrol in a recognised program and present this evidence with their application for the scholarship. It is suggested that applicants liaise with their university to confirm the final date for withdrawal without financial penalty, should their application for the scholarship be unsuccessful.
• Photo identity card issued by the Australian Government or a state or territory government (this may take the form of a Working with Children or Vulnerable People card or a government-issued occupational licence) to verify your identity.
• Official transcripts of results for any postgraduate studies. Please note: A transcript is an official document outlining subjects and results obtained for each year of study.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a supporting statement from your current principal along with one other supporting statement from a supervisor or colleague.

Your principal may request a delegate to complete your Principal’s Supporting Statement, however both your delegate and principal must co-sign the form.

If your principal has completed the Principal’s Supporting Statement, a delegate isn’t required to counter sign.

If you are unable to gain a principal’s endorsement you may provide a supporting statement from your most recent supervising stage leader or head teacher. The Employment Programs team in the School Workforce Directorate may seek further information if your application progresses.

A selection panel will review applications shortly after the application is received. Your principal and referee may be contacted when assessing your application. We may also verify your employment details with the department’s Teacher Recruitment Unit.

Shortlisted scholarship applicants for the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) for Temporary Teachers will be required to undertake an online interview to identify their capabilities, key knowledge areas and personal attributes to determine their suitability. Interview invitations will be sent by email and will come from a third party provider.

Yes. Both successful and unsuccessful applicants are notified of the outcome via email once the selection process is completed.

If you would like feedback on your application, contact the Employment Programs team via sponsoredtraining@det.nsw.edu.au.

Successful applicants are required to sign a Scholarship Agreement with the department, committing them to:

• successfully acquiring additional competencies in a specialist teaching area
• completing the approved postgraduate program within two years, or within the timeframe required in line with your conditions of employment
• for permanent teachers, remaining in the permanent teaching position (minimum 0.6 FTE) you are appointed to on completion of your studies for a minimum period of three years
• for temporary teachers, actively seeking employment within NSW public schools in the specialist teaching area of your scholarship.

For advice on further studies required, please click on the relevant area below:

• Teacher Librarianship
• Careers Advisor
• English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D).

The Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) can support teachers for a maximum of two years.

For permanent teachers, you will need to complete the required studies in the agreed timeframe, in line with the conditions of your employment.

While engaged in a full-time temporary or permanent capacity, you can apply for up to eight (8) days of paid study leave per year (pro-rata basis for part-time employees). In addition to up to eight days study leave, you can apply for study leave for the period of your practicum. The study leave day(s) must be approved by your principal. Your principal can request relief funds be reimbursed to the school if a casual teacher was employed to replace you for the day(s). Teachers will retain their full salary while on study leave.

An application form for study leave and request for relief funds will be provided to you if you are a successful scholarship recipient.

The financial benefit under the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) is capped at $20,000 per year of full time study. The $20,000 is based on a study load of 8 subjects ($2,500 per subject).

You will receive the first scholarship payment once your scholarship is finalised and evidence of your enrolment into postgraduate studies for Semester 1, 2024 has been received. For permanent teachers, the scholarship payment will be calculated from the current semester/session/trimester/term of when the scholarship is granted.

Subjects completed prior to the commencement date of the scholarship will not be paid.

The total maximum amount payable to recipients of the scholarship is $20,000 per year of study and will be paid via electronic funds transfer (EFT) directly into your nominated bank account.

Payments will begin after your sponsorship has been finalised and evidence of enrolment received. Subsequent payments will require you to provide a copy of your results for the previous semester and your new enrolment details.

Scholarship funds will be included alongside your regular pay and are subject to tax. You will be eligible to receive the full $20,000 per year of study if you are completing a minimum of eight subjects per year while on scholarship. If you do not complete a minimum of eight subjects per year, you will be paid a pro-rata amount, that being $2,500 per subject studied while on scholarship.

The department will not provide an allowance for subjects previously failed and reattempted, or subjects for which you receive advanced standing or academic credit.

The following payment scenario is an example based on course requirements where 8 subjects are to be completed

1. Up to $10,000 paid once the Employment Programs team receives confirmation of your enrolment in approved subjects. This is based on evidence of enrolment in at least four subjects.
2. Up to $10,000 paid once the Employment Programs team receives confirmation of your successful mid-way completion of approved subjects and evidence of enrolment into at least four more subjects for the following semester.

Alternatively, if you will be completing subjects over two years, your training allowance payments will be paid on receipt of evidence of enrolment each semester and paid at a rate of $2,500 per subject.

Scholars who are permanent or temporary teachers can apply for study leave while completing a practicum.

Temporary teachers must be engaged in temporary employment at the time they are required to complete their practicum to be eligible.

Teachers on approved study leave will retain their salary for the period of their practicum. Your principal can request for relief funds to be reimbursed to the school if a casual teacher was employed to replace you while on study leave.

A Study Leave Form to apply for study leave and a request for relief funds will be provided to you when you are successful in being offered a scholarship.

The department will not pay the equivalent upfront course contribution fee for any unit which you receive advanced standing or academic credit for.

The training allowances payable to scholars will be paid in the regular pay cycle and taxed accordingly.

Any money paid to you by the department must be declared as assessable income on annual income tax returns. You will have tax withheld from your annual training allowance. HECS-HELP repayments may also be withheld. If you have any taxation questions it is recommended that you seek independent financial and/or taxation advice.