Sixteen local aspiring early childhood teachers are among 400 NSW scholarship recipients who have received a cash boost to assist them in completing their higher education studies.

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson was pleased that the NSW 2022/23 Budget commitment to train more early childhood educators has already come to fruition with $11 million already invested to boost the workforce.

“Each of our scholarship recipients have received a $25,000 scholarship and I am so pleased that these aspiring educators will soon be part of our local workforce,” Mr Anderson said.

“This is the first step of the NSW Government’s plan to address workforce issues in the industry and it’s great news that the Tamworth Electorate is already seeing the benefit of this record investment.”

These scholarships will help create a viable supply of early learning professionals under the 2022-23 Early Childhood Education Scholarships Program and Aboriginal Early Childhood Education Scholarships program.

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said one third of all successful scholars live and work in regional and remote areas across the state, which will help create lasting benefits now and into the future for all NSW children, families and the economy.

“With submissions from hundreds of talented applicants, many already working in community preschools and long day care services, it’s great to support these applicants to retrain or start their early childhood career,” Ms Mitchell said.

“These scholarships will support recipients to deepen their understanding of early childhood environments, and gain additional skills and capabilities which will be passed on to the children they teach.

“I congratulate the scholars on their commitment to education and I wish them every success in their studies and future careers as qualified early childhood teachers.”

More than 18,000 prospective early childhood teachers and carers will be supported to enter the sector or boost their skills thanks to a $281.6 million workforce package in the NSW Government’s 2022/23 Budget.

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. Through the introduction of a universal pre-Kindergarten year, the Brighter Beginnings initiative, workforce package and affordable preschools the Liberals and Nationals Government are ensuring NSW is the best state to live, work and raise a family.

More information can be found on the Department’s website: https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education/working-in-early-childhood-education/professional-development-and-scholarships