Aspiring early childhood educators in the region will soon be lining up to take advantage of the NSW Government’s new scholarship program.

Early childhood educators looking to complete a Certificate III or Diploma can now benefit from a $23.5 million investment by the NSW Government to deliver scholarships worth up to $3,000 or $5,000.  

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said the NSW Government were delivering a stronger early childcare sector by supporting aspiring educators to upskill with financial support.

“We know how difficult it can be to access early childcare in our region which is why I remain committed to working with the sector to boost placements in all of our communities,” Mr Anderson said.

“To increase placements, we need investment in infrastructure, but we also need to make the necessary investment that will attract and retain a stronger workforce.

“I’m encouraging anyone who wants to develop their skills in the early childhood sector to apply for these scholarships and take advantage of our investment in the workforce.”

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the new VET scholarships are part of the NSW Government’s $281.6 million package announced in the Budget early this year to attract, retrain 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 be open from 15 November 2022 to 15 January 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. Through the introduction of a universal pre-Kindergarten year, the Brighter Beginnings initiative, workforce package and affordable preschool funding, the Liberals and Nationals Government are ensuring NSW is the best state to live, work and raise a family. 

Current and aspiring educators are encouraged to explore the new dedicated Early Childhood Careers section of the Department of Education’s website by visiting education.nsw.gov.au/EarlyChildhoodCareers.